Intent and Content
Prepared by the Office of the Attorney General
This Act would authorize the State to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars ($15,500,000), to raise funds for facility improvements at seven Maine Community College System campuses, 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 from the sale of these bonds would be spent by the Maine Community College System for the following purposes and in the following amounts:
$2,350,000 Central Maine Community College in Auburn – to construct a building to house science laboratories, classrooms, and offices to support the expansion and addition of associate degree programs.
$2,450,000 Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor – to expand the academic building known as Maine Hall to accommodate additional academic classrooms, including health sciences classrooms, and more laboratory space, including a criminal justice simulation laboratory.
22
$2,000,000 Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield and Hinckley – to renovate existing buildings to provide classroom and laboratory spaces that will enable expansion of the precision machining and electrical lineworker programs, addition of a culinary arts program, and relocation of the early childhood program. Funds also will be used to remove hazardous materials, improve environmental systems and purchase classroom equipment.
$ 900,000 Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle – to renovate Aroostook Hall to provide added classrooms, laboratories and offices for expanded programs in allied health. Funds also will be used to construct a new maintenance facility and to purchase classroom equipment.
$3,400,000 Southern Maine Community College in South Portland and Brunswick – to renovate and upgrade buildings to allow for relocation and expansion of programs to the new Brunswick campus, to increase the enrollment capacity of the integrated manufacturing program, and to purchase classroom equipment.
$1,000,000 Washington County Community College in Calais – to renovate and increase the energy efficiency of the Harold Howland Building; to improve existing systems and equipment and convert space for use by the heavy equipment programs; and to purchase classroom equipment.
$3,400,000 York County Community College in Wells – to construct a building that will house classrooms, computer laboratories, and office space, and to purchase classroom equipment for the new degree program in precision machining.
If approved, the authorization of these bonds would take effect 30 days after the Governor’s proclamation of the vote.
A “YES” vote approves the issuance of up to fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars ($15,500,000) in general obligation bonds to finance the activities described above.
A “NO” vote disapproves the bond issue in its entirety.