On November 4 registered voters in Maine will be asked to decide three citizen initiated statewide referendum questions. In addition, voters in Portland and Gorham will be asked to approve statewide and local bond issues, decide town and city council elections, approve the creation of a new Cumberland Country Charter, and fill school committee seats. The first question is a choice between three competing measures, each offering a distinct approach to state education funding. Question two asks the voters to allow slot machines to be operated at “certain commercial horse racing tracks”. Question three asks voters if they want to allow the Penebscot Nation and Passamaquoddy tribe to build and run a 650-million resort casino, possibly in Sanford.
Citizen Initiative questions like the three currently before voters, are eligible to be placed on state ballots after Maine’s Secretary of State approves the language of a particular question and organizers gather a little over 50,000 signatures from registered voters. The number of signatures required to make a question eligible is 10 percent of the voters who participated in the last gubernatorial election, and is calculated by the Office of the Secretary of State.
What’s on the State Ballot
Question One asks voters to choose from among three competing approaches to education funding and local property tax relief. Option 1A would force the state to comply with a non-binding pledge made in 1984 to cover 55 percent of local education costs, including 100 percent of special education costs. The state currently covers about 43 percent of local education costs. If approved, measure 1A would force the state to come up with an estimated $250 million in additional educational funding in the next year. This measure is sponsored by the Maine Municipal Association, and supported by the Maine Education Association and the Portland City Council. Proponents of 1A argue that increased funding for local education would allow municipalities to lower property taxes, shifting the burden away from the property tax. Measure 1B is sponsored by Governor Baldacci and the Maine State legislature, and supported by the state board of education. It would “phase in” the 55 percent requirement over five years, with the state covering 55 percent of local school costs by fiscal year 2009-2010. Measure 1B would also increase funding for two state programs designed to reduce property taxes.
Supporters of question 1B argue that question 1A is irresponsible and would cause the state to raise taxes or cut services in order to meet its 55 percent requirement in the next year. Supporters of 1A argue that the 55 percent requirement could be met by the legislature in a “revenue neutral way”, meaning without a tax hike or significant cut in state services. Option 1C, if approved, would maintain the current school funding arrangement.
Question two asks voters if they want to allow slot machines to be operated at “certain commercial horse racing tracks,” most notably at Scarborough Downs and Bangor Raceway. There are also plans for the construction of a 30 million dollar “racino”, a racetrack with slot machines, at Bass Park in Bangor, or possibly at a site in Brewer. Voters in Bangor approved the operation of slot machines at Bangor Raceway last June, and a question seeking similar approval is before voters in Brewer and Scarborough in the upcoming election. There is little organized opposition to the approval of this citizen initiative, which would require that 10 percent of the net income from slots be used to provide financial assistance with prescription drugs to adults who are elderly or disabled. Another 15 percent of the income from slots would be distributed to a variety of state programs, including three percent which would be used to bolster the University of Maine’s and the Community College system’s respective scholarship funds. This citizen initiative was led by Best Bet For Maine, a political action committee formed by Capital Seven, a limited liability corporation based in Nevada that is also involved in the plans to develop the “racino” in either Bangor or Brewer. Proponents view slot machines as a means of rejuvenating a slumping harness racing industry that a recent state task force found to support 2000 jobs. The task force also estimated that the harness racing industry pumped 50 million dollars into the state economy in 2000. Opponents argue that the social costs of proliferating legalized gambling outweigh the potential economic benefits to the state.
Question Three asks: “Do you want to allow a casino to be run by the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation if part of the revenue is used for state education and municipal revenue sharing?” The passage of question three would allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot nation to build and operate a 650 million-dollar casino on a 300-acre site they have optioned in Sanford. Twenty five percent of the income from the casino’s slot machines, likely to number 4,000, would be put toward education funding, property tax relief, and scholarship funds. Proponents argue that this will amount to over 100 million dollars by the casino’s fifth year of operation. The casino’s opponents argue that the law does not create a minimum payment to the state or specify a minimum number of slot machines to be operated at the casino. The casino also projects 5,000 new full-time jobs with benefits, and possibly another 5,000 jobs at firms doing business with the casino. This citizen initiative was financed almost entirely by Tom Tureen, a Portland lawyer and tribal advisor who represented the Native Americans in a 1980 land settlement suit, and Marnell Corrao, a Las Vegas Casino developer, who would likely be hired by the tribes to run the casino. Question three has been vigorously opposed by CasinosNO!, a political action committee receiving financial support from MBNA of Belfast, LL Bean, Tom’s of Maine, and former governor Angus King.
Casino NO! argues that the legislation tied to the question is full of loopholes and vague language that benefits the tribes and the casino’s financial backers. They also point out that the legislation leaves the state with no means of altering the way the casino is run should problems arise in the future. Opponents are also worried about legal jurisdiction at the casino, but the referendum stipulates that the casino cannot be run on tribal land and would hence be subject to all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Voters in Sanford narrowly approved a non-binding referendum to allow the construction of the casino in their town last November. If the casino is approved statewide, the seven member Sanford town council will consider the question.
Local Ballot
In addition to three citizen initiated referendum questions, voters in Portland and Gorham will be asked to fill town and city council seats, approve education bond issues, approve state bond issues, decide school committee elections, and decide whether to not to create a new Cumberland Country Charter.
On the flip side of state referendum ballot, voters will find three bond issues, which, if approved, will authorize the state to borrow a little over 89 million dollars, with the money going toward a variety of projects. The approval of the bond issues will allow the state to borrow the 89 million dollars immediately, and pay the loan back over time with interest. Question four asks voters to allow the state to borrow just under seven million dollars to construct water pollution control facilities, upgrade the drinking water system, clean up uncontrolled hazardous substance sites, and complete other local improvement projects. Question five is a 19 million-dollar bond issue that would direct 12 million dollars to the new Maine community college system, which has seen a 14% rise in enrollment in its first year of existence. The money would also be used to upgrade classroom equipment at various other schools in the University of Maine system, and provide grants to construct public libraries and improve community Internet access. Question six would authorize a 63 million-dollar bond, with the money directed toward a variety of transportation projects. These include: improvements to highways, bridges, airports, ferry vessels, and the development of rail corridor between Portland, Yarmouth, and Brunswick. If approved, the bond will make Maine eligible for 217 million dollars in federal matching funds that would be used for these and other similar projects.
Also before voters in Portland and Gorham is a measure that would create a new Cumberland County Charter, local education bond issues, town and city council elections, and school committee elections. Voters in Portland and Gorham are asked to decide whether or not to create a new Cumberland country charter, and to choose officials to serve on this commission. The commission would be a step toward the regional provision of services in Cumberland County. Proponents argue that a county commission can effectively maintain roads, runs schools, oversee planning, collect taxes, and provide other services more efficiently than each individual town. This would mark a departure from the New England tradition of local self-rule. Regionalization would dilute direct citizen control over services, vesting power instead in a regional commission. Proponents argue that the efficient provision of regional services could lower local taxes. Voters in Portland can watch a Cumberland County Charter Commission Candidate debate on CTN 4, on October 30th from 7-8 p.m.
The local education bond issues before voters in Portland ask for approval to borrow a total 13.5 million dollars, to be puts towards the construction of a new East End Elementary School and to renovate Riverton Elementary School. In Gorham, voters are asked to approve a loan of 400,000 dollars for the replacement and improvement of the roof at Narragansett School. Gorham voters seeking information on the candidates for town council and school committee should tune in to “Gorham Town Council: Meet the Candidates 2003,” on Gorham Public Access Television October 27th to October 29th at either 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. Portland Voters seeking similar information can attend a town council and school committee candidate forum on October 28th at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Chestnut Street Church, at 17 Chestnut St, and is sponsored by P.O.W.E.R., the Portland Organization to Win Economic Rights. All candidates for the city council and the school committee have agreed to participate.
SIDEBAR
University of Southern Maine students are eligible to vote in the upcoming election, but must register. Students residing in Portland Hall or elsewhere in the City Portland can register by visiting the city clerk’s office in City Hall at 389 Congress Street. The clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. It is also possible to register to vote in Portland on Saturday November 1st from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. All that is required to register is a piece of identification (driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, etc.) and a piece of mail to prove address.
Voter registration in Gorham occurs in the town clerk’s office located at 270 Main Street. The Gorham town clerk is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Gorham voters will also need identification and proof of address. Voters interested in registering on Election Day can do so at their designated polling place. Polling places are contingent on address and can be determined by calling the Portland City Clerk’s office at 874-8610, or the Town clerk’s office in Gorham at 839-5037. Any questions regarding voter registration should be directed to the city clerk’s office in Portland, or the town clerk’s office in Gorham. Commuter students must register to vote in the municipalities where they currently reside. Contact your local clerk’s office to do so. For more information on the upcoming election, including the full text of referendum question and adjoining legislation visit, www.maine.gov. Also, the Bangor Daily News maintains an archive of stories and information on ballot issues that can be accessed free of charge: www.bangornews.com
Craig Giammona can be reached at [email protected]