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Maine Clean Water and Wetlands Bond Issue, Question 6 (2014)

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Question 6
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TypeBond issue
OriginMaine Legislature
TopicBonds
StatusApproved Approveda
2014 measures
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November 4
Question 1 Defeatedd
Question 2 Approveda
Question 3 Approveda
Question 4 Approveda
Question 5 Approveda
Question 6 Approveda
Question 7 Approveda
Polls
Expenditures
Local measures

The Maine Clean Water and Wetlands Bond Issue, Question 6 was on the November 4, 2014 ballot in Maine as a legislatively referred bond question, where it was approved. The measure was designed to issue $10 million in bonds to ensure clean water, protect drinking water and restore wetlands.[1]

Election results

Below are the official, certified election results:

 Maine Bond Issue 6
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 379,606 64.59%
No208,10535.41%

Election results via: Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions

Text of measure

Ballot title

The question appeared on the ballot as follows:[1]

“
Question 6: Bond Issue

Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to ensure clean water and safe communities across Maine; to protect drinking water sources; to restore wetlands; to create jobs and vital public infrastructure; and to strengthen the State’s long-term economic base and competitive advantage?[2]

”

Text of legislation

The full text of the legislation that referred this measure to the ballot was as follows:[3]

“ An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Ensure Clean Water and Safe Communities

Preamble. Two thirds of both Houses of the Legislature deeming it necessary in accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize the issuance of bonds on behalf of the State of Maine to provide funds as described in this Act,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Authorization of bonds. The Treasurer of State is authorized, under the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an amount not exceeding $10,000,000 for the purposes described in section 6 of this Act. The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State. The bonds may not run for a period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds.

Sec. 2. Records of bonds issued; Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of State shall ensure that an account of each bond is kept showing the number of the bond, the name of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale and the date when payable.

Sec. 3. Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. The Treasurer of State may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may be loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set forth in this Act. Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project in this Act lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general obligation bonds.

Sec. 4. Interest and debt retirement. The Treasurer of State shall pay interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Act and all sums coming due for payment of bonds at maturity.

Sec. 5. Disbursement of bond proceeds. The proceeds of the bonds must be expended as set out in this Act.

Sec. 6. Allocations from Highway Fund and General Fund bond issue. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under this Act must be expended as designated in the following schedule.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF

Provides funds for vital public improvement projects including stream crossing or culvert upgrades.

Total . . . . . . $5,400,000

Provides funds to restore state wetlands.

Total . . . . . . $400,000

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF

Provides funds for the revolving loan fund for wastewater treatment facilities, which will make the State eligible to secure federal grants.

Total . . . . . . $2,400,000

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Provides funds for the revolving loan fund for drinking water systems, which will make the State eligible to secure federal grants.

Total . . . . . . $1,800,000

Sec. 7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. Sections 1 to 6 do not become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set forth in this Act.

Sec. 8. Appropriation balances at year-end. At the end of each fiscal year, all unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. Bond proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general obligation bonds.

Sec. 9. Bonds authorized but not issued. Any bonds authorized but not issued within 5 years of ratification of this Act are deauthorized and may not be issued, except that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of time not to exceed 5 years.

Sec. 10. Referendum for ratification; submission at election; form of question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:

"Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to ensure clean water and safe communities across Maine; to protect drinking water sources; to restore wetlands; to create jobs and vital public infrastructure; and to strengthen the State's long-term economic base and competitive advantage?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of the proclamation. The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. (quote)

”

Fiscal note

The fiscal note was as follows:[4]

MaineQ62014fiscal.png

Background

The election that took place in Maine on November 4, 2014, is known as a referendum election. According to the Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, "Referendum Elections are held to provide Maine’s citizens an opportunity to vote on People’s Veto Referenda, Direct initiatives of Legislation (i.e. Citizen Initiatives), Bond Issues, other referenda proposed by the Legislature, and Constitutional Amendments. Referendum elections are an important part of the heritage of public participation in Maine."[5]

Support

Supporters

SP 539 "Yes" votes

The following members of the Maine Legislature voted in favor of placing this measure on the ballot.[8][9]

Note: A yes vote on SP 539 merely referred the question to voters and did not necessarily mean these legislators approved of the stipulations laid out in Question 6.

Senate

House

Arguments

The Maine League of Women Voters listed the following as arguments in favor of Question 6 in their voters' guide:[10]

“
  • The bond will provide money to protect drinking water, prevent wastewater pollution, and restore wetlands.
  • Use of the bond funds could result in new jobs.
  • It may help the economy in the State of Maine.

[2]

”

Opposition

SP 539 "No" votes

The following members of the Maine Legislature voted against placing this measure on the ballot.[8][9]

Note: A no vote on SP 539 meant that a legislator did not want to refer the question to voters and did not necessarily mean these legislators disapproved of the stipulations laid out in Question 6.

Senate

House

Arguments

The Maine League of Women Voters listed the following as arguments in opposition to Question 6 in their voters' guide:[10]

“
  • Maine would add $10 million to its total debt.
  • It will cost a total of $12.2 million in principal and interest over ten years to repay the money.
  • Other projects may be more worthy of the state’s money.

[2]

”

Media editorial positions

See also: Endorsements of Maine ballot measures, 2014

Support

  • The Maine Current said,
“ We support Question 6, which asks for a $10 million bond to protect drinking water and restore wetlands and help municipalities address culverts. With development pressures on the rise, especially here in southern Maine, residents should support any effort to maintain water quality. [2] ”
—Maine Current[11]
  • The Press Herald said,
“ The six bond questions on the Nov. 4 ballot are all prudent investments that leverage federal and private funds into long-term investments that will benefit Mainers for decades.

Nowhere is that more true than in Question 6, which would help fund projects that will improve and protect the environment and create or maintain hundreds of jobs. For those reasons, voters should vote “yes” on Question 6.[2]

”
—Press Herald[12]

Path to the ballot

See also: Legislatively-referred state statute

According to Article IX, Section 14 of the Maine Constitution, a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Maine Legislature was required to put bond issues before voters.

The Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives passed SP 539 on April 17, 2014.[13]

Senate vote

April 17, 2014 Senate vote

Maine SP 539 Senate Vote
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 30 93.75%
No26.25%

House vote

April 17, 2014 House vote

Maine SP 539 Assembly Vote
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 129 86.90%
No1913.10%

See also

Additional reading

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maine Secretary of State, "Upcoming Elections: November 4, 2014 - General Election," accessed August 7, 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ Maine Legislature, "Public Law 589," April 26, 2014
  4. ↑ Maine Legislature, "Public Law 589 Fiscal Note," April 25, 2014
  5. ↑ Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, "Upcoming Elections," accessed September 9, 2014
  6. ↑ Central Maine, "Bond issues deserve our support," October 22, 2014
  7. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Where a Democrat, Republican agree: Innovation bonds are crucial to Maine’s future," October 22, 2014
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Open States, "Senate Vote on SP 539," accessed November 1, 2014
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 OpenStates.org, "House Vote on SP 539," accessed November 1, 2014
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 League of Women Voters of Maine, "Voter Guide for Maine General Election: November 4, 2014," accessed November 1, 2014
  11. ↑ Maine Current, "Editorial: A question of bonds," October 8, 2014
  12. ↑ Press Herald, "Our View: Vote ‘yes’ on 6 to protect Maine’s water, environment," October 30, 2014
  13. ↑ Open States, "SP 539," accessed October 21, 2014
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