Among the five state bond issues voters will decide on Election Day, two address statewide capital improvements for Maine Army National Guard readiness centers and transportation infrastructure. The other three would provide funding for a variety of higher education investments, and those we’ll address next week.
Question 1 on the ballot asks voters to commit to $14 million for the state’s share of maintenance and upgrades to the National Guard centers, plus the purchase of up to 6,000 acres of land for training. This one comes with federal matching funds, which could mean as much as $28 million total.
In short, this bond issue is a chance for every voter to “put your money where your mouth is.” We all give a lot of lip service to our support for the military, but this is a tangible way for all taxpayers to show that they care.
According to Major Michael Steinbuchel, public affairs officer for the Maine National Guard, most of the state’s armories were built between 1930-50 ”“ and haven’t been significantly upgraded since. The funding being sought by the Guard would not be used for fancy upgrades or frivolous additions, but for maintenance improvements that will shore up these buildings and bring them up to today’s safety codes. New roofs, modern heating systems, insulation, asbestos mitigation, new windows and brick repointing are among the proposed renovation projects, Steinbuchel noted. Many of those will result in improved energy efficiency that will actually save the Guard money in operation costs.
These are not only the places where our National Guard trains and prepares for deployments, they’re also activity centers and emergency shelters for the communities that host them. The Guard, made up of 2,100 soldiers and 1,100 airmen, is there not only to help serve the nation in operations overseas but also to aid law enforcement and emergency management personnel when disasters strike our state.
The National Guard is not known to sit idly by, and over the years, its members have converted what they could and patched up as much as possible, but the time has come and gone for significant repairs and upgrades to these buildings.
In the era when these buildings were constructed, there was no Americans with Disabilities Act, so many are not accessible for everyone ”“ and that becomes a problem when disaster strikes and the armories become emergency shelters. The military has a significant female membership now, as well, but the armories are not built with separate shower facilities, noted Steinbuchel.
Maine’s armories will become dilapidated to the point of uselessness if no investment is made in their upkeep, and the state will continue to let money leak out the windows and roofs of these buildings in the meantime.
Question 3 seeks $100 million from Maine voters for reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges, plus facilities related to marine transportation, rail, aviation and transit. Approval would come with an estimated $154 million match from federal and other funds, according to the state.
Anyone who has traveled Maine roads or used other transportation venues probably needs little convincing to vote for this bond. Investments such as these are very basic ways to help keep our economy strong, and with matching funds to add to state contributions, it makes sense to support it.
Good transportation infrastructure encourages business investment in Maine and also helps support that ever-important industry: tourism. Mainers should not have to be afraid of deadly bridge collapses, or even car-damaging potholes, when we travel the state, and neither should our visitors.
More on the other three bond issues, affecting higher education institutions throughout the state, next week.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
