Maine Question 4, Bond Issue to Fund State Facilities Measure (1983)

Maine Question 4
Election date November 8, 1983
Topic Bond issues and Pollution, waste, and recycling policy
Status Defeated
Type Bond issue	Origin State legislature

Maine Question 4 was on the ballot as a bond issue in Maine on November 8, 1983. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported defunding past bonds that were authorized but not issued, and issuing $21.094 million in bonds to fund government facilities projects, specifically: $2 million for the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Fund; $2.5 million for water pollution control; $7.5 million for the state's correctional facilities; $1.5 million for the restoration and preservation of historic structures; $2 million  for the State Planning Office's Community Development Block Grant Program; $1.494 million to create a crime laboratory and morgue in Augusta; $1.1 million for District Courts; and $3 million for miscellaneous projects.

A "no" vote opposed issuing $21.094 million in bonds to fund government facilities projects.

Election results

Maine Question 4
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		141,706	48.68%
No		149,378	51.32%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Question 4 was as follows:

“

Shall a bond issue be authorized in the amount of $21,094,000 to provide for various state facilities' projects and to provide for municipal facility impIOvements including: Necessary capital improvements at corrections' facilities; stabilization restoration of the state's most unique historic structures which are in public or nonprofit ownerships, such as forts, mansions, theaters, ships and lighthouses; a broad range of projects for improving, constructing, renovating, equipping and furnishing state departments' physical plant facilities, ranging from new District Courts for the Bath Brunswick and Skowhegan areas to the repair of roofs, masonry and boilers on a statewide priority basis; hazardous waste cleanup; water pollution control projects; and establishment of a public facilities' grants program to assist municipalities in meeting their capital needs?

”

Path to the ballot

In Maine, voter approval is required for state bond issues that exceed $2 million, with exceptions to bonds for the purpose of suppressing insurrection, repelling invasion, or for purposes of war, as well as for temporary loans paid out of money raised by taxation during the fiscal year which they are made, or for loans to be paid within 12 months with federal transportation funds.

A two thirds majority (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Maine State Legislature to place a bond issue on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the Maine House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Maine State Senate, assuming no vacancies. State bond issues require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1983 Measures

• 1983 Measures
• Prison and jail funding on the ballot
• Pollution on the ballot
• waste on the ballot
• and recycling policy on the ballot
• Bond issues on the ballot
• 1983 legislative sessions

Maine

• Maine ballot measures
• Maine ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Maine Law and Legislative Digital Library Home - Election Returns
• Maine Referendum Guide - 1983