With a hotly contested governor’s race and a high-profile casino question up for a vote Nov. 2, two other matters, both referendum questions, have been largely relegated to the sidelines.
But Question 2, which asks voters to bond $5 million to create a dental school in Maine while expanding community-based clinics, and Question 3, which asks voters to bond $9.75 million for conservation and preservation under the Land for Maine’s Future program, both warrant attention and support.
While it is a difficult time for many voters to consider more debt for the state, funds approved under both proposals would leverage additional money toward projects that are sound investments with the promise of future financial gain for the state. That is why we urge a yes vote on both questions.
In the case of Question 2, approval of the funds would take a strong step toward solving a growing crisis in Maine, while also lowering health care costs that are ultimately shouldered by all residents.
According to Dental Care for ME, a coalition supporting the bond, Maine has one dentist for every 2,300 people – far fewer than the national average. And the situation is worse in more rural areas of the state. Nearly a quarter-million residents do not have dental care.
The majority of the bond money in Question 2, $3.5 million, would be provided on a competitive basis to an institution to create a dental school in Maine. The institution — University of New England is the consensus leader – would have to match the funds, and would likely end up investing much more. The remaining $1.5 million would be used to establish or expand community-based dental clinics across the state.
The school, along with loan forgiveness and tax incentive programs already in place, would draw dental students to Maine and keep them here after graduation. The key, then, would be to make sure some of these new dentists find homes in the more rural parts of the state.
In addition, the Legislature must continue to look at ways to increase dental coverage in Maine. The lack of dentists who accept MaineCare insurance, the state program that helps pay for health care for those who can’t afford it, is one reason so many dental patients end up in the emergency room, where their care costs taxpayers dearly: $7 million a year just for the 18-44 age group, according to the University of New England planning department.
Increasing MaineCare reimbursements is the prevailing idea for solving this problem, but state budget woes have stalled that effort. There have to be other, interim solutions, and state officials must find them.
As for Question 3, the $9.75 million for the Land for Maine’s Future program is as close to a no-brainer as these issues come. Approval would leverage $9.25 million in federal and other funds to help conserve and preserve recreationally and ecologically valuable lands, as well as working farms, forests and waterfronts.
Through the last 20 years, the Land for Maine’s Future program has been wildly successful at protecting the open lands and waters of Maine, so that they can be enjoyed by residents and serve as a draw to tourists.
The program has spent $117 million, acquiring more than 510,000 acres from willing sellers, and protected more than 1,000 miles of shorefront and 158 miles of rail-trails, including areas like Ferry Beach State Park, Sebago Lake Beach and Scarborough Beach.
That history without a doubt earns a yes vote for Question 3.
Ben Bragdon is the managing editor at Current Publishing. He can be followed on Twitter @benbragdon.
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