AUGUSTA - Election Day always comes with a slate of state ballot questions, and this year it’s bonds, bonds and more bonds — almost $150 million worth ($182 million with interest), to improve transportation systems, public higher education facilities and National Guard Centers.

Many of the loans would make the state eligible for federal matching money or include provisions for private fundraising.

The $4.5 million requested in Question 1 for National Guard facilities and the $100 million in Question 3 for highways, bridges, ports, rails and other transportation, would make the state eligible for federal matching funds equal to or exceeding the the bond amount. Within these, the biggest bang for the buck would come from the multimodal section of the transportation bond (i.e. everything that’s not highways and bridges). The $24 million subset is expected to net $71 million in federal funds and private investments.

Also notable is the $4.5 million request in Question 4 for funding to help build a new research facility at Maine Maritime Academy. The bond money would be matched with almost $10 million raised by the Academy.

Advocacy has been strong on the academic questions. Political Action Committees and Ballot Question Committees have poured almost a half-million dollars into the Questions 2, 4 and 5, with most of the money coming from the colleges themselves, alumni associations or other affiliates. The National Guard and transportation questions have not received campaign committee support.

The follow is a breakdown of the five bonds, including the ballot question wording, how the money would be spent, and which groups, if any, have campaigned for or against the question:

Question 1: Army National Guard

Do you favor a $14 million bond issue to provide funds for the State's share of maintenance, repair, capital improvement, modernization and energy efficiency projects for Maine Army National Guard readiness centers and support facilities and the purchase of land for training and to draw down federal matching funds?

Total estimated lifetime cost is $17 million, representing $14 million in principal and $3 million in interest (assumes a rate of 4-percent over 10 years).

Where would the money go?

$11 million for the State’s share of costs for maintenance and repair projects, capital improvements, and modernization and energy efficiency improvement projects at Maine Army National Guard readiness centers (armories) and support facilities across the state.  These funds are expected to leverage up to $14 million in federal funds in fiscal years 2015-2019.

$3 million to purchase up to 6,000 acres of land to be used for training by the Maine Army National Guard, and related facilities. Federal funds cannot be used to acquire land for training, but may be used for operation and maintenance costs after acquisition.

Who is is campaigning on Question 1?

There are no Political Action Committees or Ballot Question Committees associated with this question.

Question 2: University of Maine

Do you favor a $15.5 million bond issue to enhance educational and employment opportunities for Maine citizens and students by updating and improving existing laboratory and classroom facilities of the University of Maine System statewide?

Total estimated lifetime cost is $18.9 million, representing $15.5 million in principal and $3.4 million in interest (assumes a rate of 4-percent over 10 years).

Where would the money go?

$5.5 million – Orono campus – to invest in renovations, capital improvements and equipment in classrooms and laboratories to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

$1.2 million – Augusta and Bangor campuses – to renovate and upgrade science and nursing laboratories.

$1.2 million – Farmington campus – to renovate the science facilities in Preble Hall and Ricker Hall, including approximately four laboratories.

$1.2 million – Fort Kent campus – to renovate and expand the nursing laboratory and to support geographic information system technology for applications in the forestry industry.

$1.2 million – Machias campus – to renovate and improve Powers Hall (including repairing its exterior), which currently houses music and art classrooms, the performing art center, art gallery, administrative offices and student services, and for laboratory upgrades in the science building.

$1.2 million – Presque Isle campus – to renovate and upgrade space, equipment and furnishings (including microscopes and fume hoods) in laboratories for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.

$4 million – University of Southern Maine campuses (Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston) – to renovate science laboratories, including those for biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, environmental sciences, nursing and occupational therapy.

Who is campaigning on Question 2? 

Maine Economic Growth Coalition (Orono, Treasurer: Todd D. Saucier) – As of the 11-day pre-general election filing, Oct. 26, this PAC had spent $128,426.40 to support Question 2. The total included $55,000 in loans and $81,575 in cash contributions, of which $58,400 were made by individuals or organizations with disclosed connections to the university system.

The PAC made small payments to two media outlets, but most of the expenditure ($124,000) were to Cashman Communications, a Bangor-based public relations company.

Question 3: Transportation

Do you favor a $100 million bond issue for reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities or equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation and transit, to be used to match an estimated $154 million in federal and other funds?

Total estimated lifetime cost is $122 million, representing $100 million in principal and $22 million in interest (assumes a rate of 4-percent over 10 years).

Where would the money go?

$44 million to reconstruct or rehabilitate state highways that have been designated as Priority 1, 2 or 3 by the Department of Transportation. Specific projects are identified in the Department’s Work Plan, which is published every year and is available at www.mainedot.gov. It is anticipated that these bond proceeds would make the State eligible for approximately forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000) in federal matching funds.

$5 million to repair secondary roads in partnership with municipalities. Under the requirements of two state programs, each requiring a 50-percent local match, the bond proceeds are expected to be matched by approximately $5 million in local funds from participating municipalities.

$27 million to replace or rehabilitate existing bridges. Specific projects are outlined in the Department’s Work Plan, as noted above. These funds are expected to make the State eligible for approximately $30 million in federal funds.

$24 million would be spent on a variety of multimodal projects related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, aviation, railroads (both passenger and freight), and transit (public transportation), as well as acquisition of property and capital improvements at the International Marine Terminal in Portland. Investment of these bond proceeds is expected to generate up to $52 million in federal funds and up to $19 million in local and private funds.  

Who is campaigning on Question 3?

There are no Political Action Committees or Ballot Question Committees associated with this question.

Question 4: Maine Maritime Academy

Do you favor a $4.5 million bond issue to provide funds for a public-private partnership for a building project for a new science facility at the Maine Maritime Academy to be matched by other funds?

Total estimated lifetime cost is $5.5 million, representing $4.5 million in principal and $1 million in interest (assumes a rate of 4-percent over 10 years).

Where would the money go?

Proceeds would be administered by the Maine Maritime Academy and used toward construction of a new science building at the Academy’s campus in Castine. The new building would house classrooms, faculty offices and laboratories. The total project is estimated to cost approximately $14 million, and the remaining funds would be raised from private donors or other sources, including a $1.4 million grant recently awarded to MMA by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.

Who is campaigning on Question 4?

Vote Yes on 4 Ballot Question Committee (Catine, Treasurer: Bill Haggett) - As of the 11-day pre-general election filing, Oct. 26, this BQC had spent $158,779.05 to support Question 4, mostly on television and newspaper advertisements. Contributions totaled just over $200,000 and came primarily from the BQC’s treasury.

Question 5: Maine Community College System

Do you favor a $15.5 million bond issue to upgrade buildings, classrooms and laboratories on the seven campuses of the Maine Community College System in order to increase capacity to serve more students through expanded programs in health care, precision machining, information technology, criminal justice and other key programs?

Total estimated lifetime cost is $18.9 million representing $15.5 million in principal and $3.4 million in interest (assumes a rate of 4-percent over 10 years).

Where would the money go?

$2.35 million – Central Maine Community College in Auburn – to construct a building to house science laboratories, classrooms, and offices to support the expansion and addition of associate degree programs.

$2.45 million – Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor – to expand the academic building known as Maine Hall to accommodate additional academic classrooms, including health sciences classrooms, and more laboratory space, including a criminal justice simulation laboratory.

$2 million – Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield and Hinckley – to renovate existing buildings to provide classroom and laboratory spaces that will enable expansion of the precision machining and electrical lineworker programs, addition of a culinary arts program, and relocation of the early childhood program. Funds also will be used to remove hazardous materials, improve environmental systems and purchase classroom equipment.

$900,000 – Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle – to renovate Aroostook Hall to provide added classrooms, laboratories and offices for expanded programs in allied health.  Funds also will be used to construct a new maintenance facility and to purchase classroom equipment.

$3.4 million – Southern Maine Community College in South Portland and Brunswick – to renovate and upgrade buildings to allow for relocation and expansion of programs to the new Brunswick campus, to increase the enrollment capacity of the integrated manufacturing program, and to purchase classroom equipment.

$1 million – Washington County Community College in Calais – to renovate and increase the energy efficiency of the Harold Howland Building; to improve existing systems and equipment and convert space for use by the heavy equipment programs; and to purchase classroom equipment.

$3.4 million – York County Community College in Wells – to construct a building that will house classrooms, computer laboratories, and office space, and to purchase classroom equipment for the new degree program in precision machining.

Who is campaigning on Question 5?

Citizens for Higher Education (Augusta, Treasurer: John Fitzsimmons) - As of the 11-day pre-general election filing, Oct. 26, this PAC had spent $138,358.00 to support Question 4, mostly on television and print advertising. Contributions totaled $184,025 and came primarily from the community colleges or affiliated groups, including $55,000 from The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges.

Where to vote: Knox County, Waldo County 

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com