AUGUSTA (AP) – Five long-term borrowing proposals adding up to $83 million, which supporters say would bankroll investments in Maine’s infrastructure, continue conservation efforts and create jobs, will be on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot.

Unlike lawmakers, who voted on the bond package in one lump sum, voters will decide on five separate questions, Nos. 2 through 6 on the ballot.

The bond total, which is less than half of the $197 million originally proposed by Gov. John Baldacci, is smaller than hoped for by some Democrats who wanted to see more money going into economic development programs. Republicans, cautious about adding to state debt, pressed to hold the line before a summer special session in which the bonds were sent to voters.

Baldacci wants voters to approve the whole package, saying it would draw an additional $240 million in matching funds while creating more than 1,000 new jobs.

But in a larger sense, it helps the state transform to a “new economy” created by global competition and improved technology, Baldacci said.

To illustrate his point, he pointed to Hodgdon Yachts in East Boothbay, a traditional Maine industry which worked in partnership with the University of Maine to develop a new advance composite vessel prototype for the Navy.

Baldacci remembers boatyard owner Tim Hodgdon telling him, “In order for us to be able to stay the same, we’ve got to change.”

The same idea applies to agriculture, natural resources and biotechnology, Baldacci said.

“It’s going to generate economic development and grow dollars and jobs in our state’s economy, which we need,” Baldacci said.

The $83 million package goes before voters as state general-obligation bond debt stands at $487 million, according to June 30 figures. But treasury figures also show that the state is expected to pay off $180 million in bond debt this fiscal year.

Baldacci, noting that no new bonds have been authorized in two years, said the state is ahead of the national average in its debt-to-revenue ratio.

But opponents say this is the wrong time for the state to be borrowing more money.

Rep. Michael Vaughan of Durham, a self-described conservative Republican, said the state should not be adding to its debt while the state Department of Health and Human Services fails to account for tens of millions of dollars and additional millions can be cut from budgets of state agencies.

The largest bond issue on the ballot, Question 2, calls for $33.1 for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit systems, state ferries and ports. Some money is earmarked for bicycle trails and walkways.

Most of the transportation bonds are earmarked for highways and bridges, including the Waldo-Hancock Bridge replacement, reconstruction of more than 100 miles of highways and replacement or rehabilitation of 84 bridges.

Other portions of the bonds would pay for replacement of the state ferry to Vinalhaven Island, replace buses with cleaner-burning models, make improvements at commercial passenger airports and make improvements to community trails.

The transportation bonds alone would leverage more than $158 million in matching funds, according to an estimate by the state.

Question 4 proposes the second-largest bond issue, $20 million, which would finance research and development projects at educational sites across the state and stimulate new jobs.

More than a third of the money would go to biomedical research and development, supporting work that has produced the best returns on state investment. The Foundation for Blood Research and Maine Medical Center Research Institute, both in Scarborough, and Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor are among the eligible recipients. Expansion at the Jackson Lab alone could support 45 jobs.

Also tapped to receive funding are nonprofit marine research labs and agencies, venture capital investments in small Maine companies, development of a business and career center in Jonesboro, and efforts to improve Maine libraries, museums, libraries and cultural attractions.

State university research facilities, including a graduate school for biomedical science at the Bangor campus, and expansion at the Lewiston-Auburn College would also be covered by the $20 million bond issue. It would draw $44 million in federal and private matching funds, says an estimate that’s included in the ballot question.

The other bond issues in the package going before voters include:

-Question 3: $8.9 million for clean water projects, including upgrades of stormwater and sewage treatment systems and public drinking water systems in numerous towns. Some bond money would be used to locate new water sources for farms and upgrade the University of Maine’s livestock research facility in Old Town. The bonds would draw $31 million in federal funds.

-Question 5: $12 million to purchase land and conservation easements for conservation, water access, outdoor recreation and to protect game and fish habitats. Some of the money would be earmarked for farmland and working waterfront preservation. The estimated match would be $7 million in private and public funds.

The money would extend the life of the Land for Maine’s Future program, which supporters say has preserved more than 192,000 acres of open space for hunters, hikers, cross-country skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts since it was created in 1987.

-Question 6: $9 million for renovations and equipment improvements at six of the seven University of Maine System campuses and all seven of the community colleges. Projects would includes expansion of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine, which provides courses for about 950 students age 55 and older. The community colleges would get the bulk of the funding, $6 million.

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On the Net:

Secretary of State, ballot questions: www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/2005/questions.htm

AP-ES-10-23-05 1100EDT

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