Question Three: Restoring Historic Maine Buildings

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) – This week we are taking a look at the five referendum questions on this year’s ballot. Question 3 on this year’s referendum is a bond question. It states… “Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?”

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said, “This question, like the other bond questions, originated with a bill put forward in the legislature to authorize a bond issue to restore historic community buildings. Now, those funds would be issued contingent on a 25% local match from either private or nonprofit sources.”

This means an organization must be able to fund 25% of the total amount they’ve requested to be eligible to receive funds. The decision on whether or not an organization would receive this funding goes through the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. Secretary Bellows, “The legislature hasn’t designated certain buildings that will receive the money or not get the money. That will be the purview of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. This was sponsored by State Senator Rick Bennett, a Republican of Oxford County, and if it is passed by the voters, then the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, we will oversee dispersing grants.”

Voters can find more information on question three and the other referendum questions in the Maine Citizens’ Guide to the Referendum Election Questions on the maine.gov website. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says this resource allows folks to take a deeper look at the questions before casting their ballot.

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