Question 4: Bond would aid transportation issues

By Lisa Wilcox
Staff writer
    Maine voters will decide five referendum questions on the Nov. 6 ballot. Referendum Question 4 reads: “Do you favor a $51,500,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, local roads, airports and port facilities, as well as for funds for rail access, transit buses and the LifeFlight Foundation, which will make the state eligible for at least $105,600,000 in federal and other matching funds?”
    Based on information obtained from the Secretary of State’s Guide to the Referendum Election, the League of Women Voters Voter Guide and the non-partisan website Project Vote Smart, this act would authorize the state to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $51,500,000 to raise funds for many projects. The bonds would run for no longer than 10 years from the date of issue and would be backed by the state.
    Proceeds from the sale of these bonds would be administered by the Department of Transportation for the following purposes:
    • Highways and bridges. The bulk of the funds, $41 million, would be used to repair and reconstruct highways and bridges deemed vital to expansion of business interests and essential to public safety. It is anticipated that this would make the state eligible for at least $72 million in federal matching funds.
    • Medical helicopter service. LifeFlight Foundation, which provides a medical helicopter service that transports critically ill and injured patients to hospitals statewide, would receive $300,0000 to install a network of automated weather observation stations as well as to construct helicopter landing pads located in remote areas and in rural communities with high levels of usage. These funds would be matched by $300,000 in funding from local governmental sources.
    • Port facilities. Three million dollars would be spent to dredge the commercial shipping channel in Searsport, which serves the existing port operation at Mack Point.
    An additional $2 million would support the purchase of material handling equipment for use at Mack Point. This funding would be matched by an equivalent amount of investment by private entities.
    Another $1.5 million in bond proceeds would be used for construction of warehouse facilities at the port of Eastport, which is owned and operated by the Eastport Port Authority.
    • Bus service. One million dollars would be used to help purchase new transit buses operated by governmental entities located across the state.
    • Industrial rail service. One and a half million dollars would support the Industrial Rail Access Program, which is an existing DOT program that provides 50 percent matching grants to private businesses for improvements necessary to increase freight transportation by rail.
    • Aviation facilities. One million two hundred thousand dollars would support projects at publicly-owned aviation facilities across the state.
    If Question 4 is approved, the authorization of these bonds would take effect 30 days after the governor‘s proclamation of the vote.
    A “yes” vote favors the issuance of up to $51,500,000 in general obligation bonds to finance these projects. A “no” vote opposes the bond issue in its entirety.
    Arguments for a “yes” vote include: use of bond funds could result in jobs and may help economic growth in the state of Maine; this bond could improve public safety; and the federal government will help pay for the work. It will give Maine $105 million more.
    Arguments for a “no” vote include: it would add $51 million to Maine’s debt; and other projects may be more worthy of the state’s money.