NEW GLOUCESTER – By a landslide, voters Wednesday approved building and funding a fire/rescue station for up to $2.3 million.

By a vote of 84-25 the project was approved using $632,694 from the Fire-Rescue Station Capital Reserve and $272,757 from the Fire-Rescue Station Special Revenue account. Voters also authorized the town to bond up to $1,394,549 for the rest of the cost.

Moderator Don Libby allowed voters to ask selectmen and the fire chief about funding options.

An amendment by Roger Lavasseur of the Fire Station Committee to eliminate the bonding provision failed 68-25. If it had been approved, selectmen would have had to find another way to raise the $1.3 million, which Lavasseur proposed come from the undesignated fund balance of nearly $5 million.

Beverly Cadigan of the Capital Improvement Planning Committee said the undesignated fund last year was used for capital improvements.

Beth Sutherland said, “It doesn’t make sense to borrow money when we have enormous amounts of money from taxpayers. You have a project here.”

Jim Giffune said he favored bonding now because of low interest rates.

“This surplus has kept us solid against an uncertain future. It’s not a good idea to put the fire station on hold,” he said.

The undesignated fund balance helps the town through uncertain times.

“Things are falling apart at the state and federal level and we don’t know how it will affect us,” Selectman Lenora Conger said.

“We need the fund balance to stabilize the fluctuations in revenues and expenses,” Selectman Steve Libby said.

However, resident George Colby said, “It’s never a good time for a town to borrow money.”

The next step in the project is for Bunker and Savage Architects and Zachau Construction to fine tune the project design plan with town officials. Applications will be submitted to Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection for permits. The project must be approved by the New Gloucester Planning Board.

The building site on Route 100 includes 25 acres purchased several years ago from Chandler Brothers, a family-owned land company based in New Gloucester.

Selectman David Lunt said Wednesday’s vote allows construction to begin in the spring.

Voters also approved Briarwood Drive in the Briarwood Estates subdivision as a town way, effective July 1.