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Question 1: Do you favor a $12,000,000 bond issue to provide: (1) The sum of $10,000,000 to address the affordable housing crisis in Maine; and (2) The sum of $2,000,000 to provide housing for victims of domestic violence? The Maine State Housing Authority would receive funds to address the affordable housing crisis in Maine by rehabilitating existing housing, acquiring affordable land and creating new permanent affordable rental units and owner-occupied rental units. Funding would also beprovided for housing for victims of domestic violence. Question 2: Do you favor a $5,000,000 bond issue for biomedical and marine research and development by Maine-based nonprofit and state research institutions? The Maine Biomedical Fund would receive $4,000,000 to support capital infrastructure and equipment. Institutions eligible to receive assistance from this Fund include any Maine-based private non-profit biomedical research institution or academic medical center that performs competitive biomedical research and performs such research in Maine. The Maine Marine Research Fund would receive $1,000,000 to support capital infrastructures and equipment that fosters marine research capacity and productivity through competitive research. Eligible institutions include Maine's private nonprofit institutions, state governmental and quasi-governmental agencies and academic institutions engaged in marine research, excluding the University of Maine System. Question 3: Do you favor a $61,000,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit and ferry facilities; development of rail, trail and marine infrastructure; and improvements to intermodal facilities statewide that makes the State eligible for up to $120,800,000 in matching federal funds? This bond would distribute $61,000,000 in the following ways: Highway and bridge improvements, $37,400,000; Airport Improvements, $4,750,000; Rail Development, $7,600,000; Ferry System Improvements, $2,350,000; Transit Improvements, $1,650,000; Intermodal Improvements, $4,000,000; Marine Development, $1,000,000; Small Harbor Development, $1,500,000; and Trail Development, $750,000. Question 4: Do you favor a $15,000,000 bond issue to capitalize the State's School Revolving Renovation Fund for repairs and improvements in public school facilities to address health, safety and compliance deficiencies, general renovation needs and learning space upgrades? Funds would be used in making loans to public schools to address serious health, safety and compliance deficiencies including those related to indoor air quality, roof system integrity, asbestos and accessibility; to support other repairs and improvements related to the school's structural integrity, heating system, doors and windows; and to provide for other learning space upgrades such as improvements to science laboratories, vocational space and increased classroom flexibility. Question 5: Do you favor a $17,000,000 bond issue to provide:(1) The sum of $6,000,000 to construct and upgrade water pollution control facilities, providing the state match for $12,500,000 in federal funds; (2) The sum of $1,000,000 to protect the State's drinking water resources by granting funds to cities and towns for the remediation of their solid waste landfills; (3) The sum of $1,500,000 to protect public health and safety and the environment by providing funds to remove and replace failing septic systems; (4) The sum of $1,000,000 to protect public health and safety and the environment by providing funds to remove overboard discharges; (5) The sum of $500,000 to protect the public health and safety and the environment by providing funds for the cleanup of tire stockpiles; (6) The sum of $3,000,000 to support drinking water system improvements that address public health threats, providing the state match for $15,760,000 in federal funds; (7) The sum of $300,000 for grants and loans to municipalities for public infrastructure through the Municipal Investment Trust Fund; (8) The sum of $2,000,000 to construct new or retrofit existing pollution control structures on Maine farms to protect the environment; (9) The sum of $700,00 to construct environmentally sound water sources that help avoid drought damage to crops; and (10) The sum of $1,000,000 to recapitalize the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund? Question 6: Do you favor a $36,700,000 bond issue to make improvements to the State's public universities, the Maine Maritime Academy and other public learning centers? The University of Maine System would be authorized to funds to pay a portion of costs associated with numerous construction and renovation projects. Projects would be occur at University of Maine, University of Maine at Farmington, University of Maine at Presque Isle, University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine at Fort Kent; and University of Southern Maine. Costs associated with renovating and equipping classroom space at the Western Maine University Center and the Calais Center would also be covered. The Maine Maritime Academy would receive $4,000,000 for construction and renovation costs for dormitories, classrooms and laboratories. The Maine Technical College System would receive $1,200,000 to renovate and equip classroom space at the Bath Higher Education Center and at the Katahdin Area K-Tech Center. While you review the provided information on November's bond, it is important to keep in mind the financial implications of approving any of them. If all six bonds are approved, the total interest and principal expected to be paid may reach $186,437,363. The state already has a total of $479,232,158 in outstanding principal and interest for issued bonds as of June 30, 2001. As a state legislator, I view voting as a civic sacrament. The very survival of our democracy is predicated upon the participation of our citizens. It is important to be an active participant in the democratic process. Take the time to research the issues thoroughly before stepping into the ballot booth. If you would like additional information on these questions, please feel free to call me, Senator Paul Davis, Jr. in Augusta at (207) 287-1505 or email. List of Bond Projects Under Question 6 University of Maine - arts center ($4 million) |