Maine Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Question 3 (2008)

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The Maine Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Bond Issue, also known as Question 3, was on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Maine as a legislatively referred bond question, where it was approved. The measure issued $3.4 million in bonds for drinking water and wastewater treatment programs.^[1]^[2]

Election results[edit]

Maine Question 3 (2008)
Result	Votes	Percentage
a Yes	353,497	50.27%
No	349,662	49.73%

Election results via: Maine Secretary of State, Elections Division, Referendum Election Tabulations, November 4, 2008

Text of measure[edit]

The language appeared on the ballot as:^[1]

“

^[3]

”

Summary[edit]

The following description of the intent and content of this ballot measure was provided in the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election:

“

This Act would authorize the State to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,400,000 to raise funds for drinking water and wastewater treatment programs, as described below. The bonds would run for a period not longer than 10 years from the date of issue and would be backed by the full faith and credit of the State.

Proceeds of the sale of these bonds in the amount of $1,700,000 would go into an existing state revolving loan fund administered by the Maine Bond Bank and distributed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the form of loans to municipalities to construct and upgrade wastewater treatment facilities. These funds would be matched by approximately $8,500,000 in federal funds (a 5:1 ratio of federal to state funds).

The remaining bond proceeds of $1,700,000 would go into the state’s safe drinking water revolving loan fund, administered by the Maine Bond Bank and the Department of Health and Human Services. Loans from this fund may be issued to eligible public water systems to design, construct or improve drinking water supplies or treatment and distribution systems, or for any actions authorized or required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. These funds would be matched by approximately $8,500,000 in federal funds (a 5:1 ratio of federal to state funds).

If approved, the bond authorization would take effect 30 days after the Governor’s proclamation of the vote.

A “YES” vote approves authorization of a $3,400,000 bond issue to finance the above activities.

A “NO” vote disapproves the bond issue in its entirety. ^[3]

”

—Office of the Attorney General

^[1]

Fiscal note[edit]

The following debt service explanation was provided in the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election:

“	Total estimated life time cost is $4,241,500 representing $3,400,000 in principal and $841,500 in interest (assuming interest at 4.5% over 10 years). ^[3]	”
—Office of the Treasurer ^[1]

The following fiscal impact statement was provided in the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election:

“	This bond issue has no significant fiscal impact other than the debt service costs identified above. ^[3]	”
—Office of Fiscal and Program Review ^[1]

Treasurer's Statement[edit]

David Lemoine, Treasurer of State, issued a report to voters on the status of all bond issues currently outstanding as debt to the taxpayers. He stated that the Bond Issue under Question 3 would add $4,241,500 to the existing debt, representing $3,400,000 in principal and $841,500 in interest.^[1]

Current Bond Debt of the State of Maine[edit]

Bonds Outstanding (Issued and Maturing through 2018):

Highway Fund: Principal $ 96,540,000, Interest $19,772,116, Total $116,312,116
General Fund: Principal $356,755,000, Interest $54,234,182, Total $410,989,182
Total: Principal $453,295,000, Interest $74,006,298, Total $527,301,298
Unissued Bonds Authorized by Voters: $221,502,000
Unissued Bonds Authorized by the Constitution and Laws: $ 99,000,000
Total Unissued Bonds: $320,502,000
Less Bond Anticipation Notes Issued this Fiscal Year: $(59,043,000)
Total Available from Authorized but Unissued: $261,459,000
Total Amount that must be paid in the present fiscal year for Debt already Outstanding (for FY2009): $98,217,346.78

Support[edit]

Supporters included:

Senator Philip Bartlett, D-Cumberland
Representative David Miramant, D-Camden
Maine Waste Water Control Association (MWWCA)
Maine Water Utilities Association
Governor John Baldacci

Arguments[edit]

Notable arguments made in support of the measure included:^[4]

The $40.5 million the state has spent since 1988 from the clean water and drinking water revolving funds have leveraged $201 million in federal funds

Opposition[edit]

The measure had no organized opposition, and garnered seemingly no debate, largely overshadowed by the other two ballot measures of 2008.^[4]

Path to the ballot[edit]

This measure originated in Chapter 673 of the 123rd Legislature's Second Regular Session.^[1]

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Maine Secretary of State, Division of Elections, "Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election, Tuesday, November 8, 2008," accessed May 9, 2014
↑ Maine Secretary of State, Elections Division, "Referendum Election Tabulations, November 4, 2008," accessed May 9, 2014
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Bangor Daily News "Water question on Maine ballot," October 20, 2008

[SOS-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Maine Secretary of State, Division of Elections, "Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election, Tuesday, November 8, 2008," accessed May 9, 2014

[2] Maine Secretary of State, Elections Division, "Referendum Election Tabulations, November 4, 2008," accessed May 9, 2014

[quotedisclaimer-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[Bangor-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Bangor Daily News "Water question on Maine ballot," October 20, 2008

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