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 University of Maine 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 University of Maine System for the following purposes and in the following amounts:
$5,500,000 Orono campus – to invest in renovations, capital improvements and equipment in classrooms and laboratories to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.
$1,200,000 Augusta and Bangor campuses – to renovate and upgrade science and nursing laboratories.
$1,200,000 Farmington campus – to renovate the science facilities in Preble Hall and Ricker Hall, including approximately four laboratories.
$1,200,000 Fort Kent campus – to renovate and expand the nursing laboratory and to support geographic information system technology for applications in the forestry industry.
$1,200,000 Machias campus – to renovate and improve Powers Hall (including repairing its exterior), which currently houses music and art classrooms, the performing art
11
center, art gallery, administrative offices and student services, and for laboratory upgrades in the science building.
$1,200,000 Presque Isle campus – to renovate and upgrade space, equipment and furnishings (including microscopes and fume hoods) in laboratories for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.
$4,000,000 University of Southern Maine campuses (Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston) – to renovate science laboratories, including those for biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, environmental sciences, nursing and occupational therapy.
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 projects described above.
A “NO” vote disapproves the bond issue in its entirety