An Act To Increase State Funding for Renovation, Repair and Replacement of Schools for Local Communities by Limiting the State's Debt Limit for New School Construction
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1355
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: BROMLEY, CUMMINGS, EDMONDS, GAGNON, MARTIN, SAWYER, BLISS, KOFFMAN, MILLS, NORTON

Legislative Document 
No. 1355 
S.P.443 
In Senate, March 13,2003 
An Act To Increase State Funding for Renovation, Repair and 
Replacement of Schools for Local Communities by Limiting the 
State's Debt Limit for New School Construction 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator BROMLEY of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative CUMMINGS of Portland and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: EDMONDS of Cumberland, GAGNON of Kennebec, MARTIN of Aroostook, 
SAWYER of Penobscot, Representatives: BLISS of South Portland, KOFFMAN of Bar 
Harbor, MILLS of Cornville, NORTON of Bangor. 
Printed on recyc led paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. I. 20-A MRSA §I5905, sub-§I, 1fA-2 is enacted to read: 
A-2. 
Beginning in fiscal year 2003-04 and in each fiscal 
year thereafter until fiscal year 2006-07, the commissioner 
shall transfer a 
portion of the debt service funds that 
would otherwise be applied to the debt service limit to the 
state share of the foundation allocation that is distributed 
to 
subsidize 
each 
school 
administrative 
unit's 
special 
education costs as defined under section 15603, subsection 
22. 
The 
commissioner shall transfer debt 
service 
funds 
authorized 
under 
paragraph 
A 
in 
accordance 
with 
this 
paragraph: 
(1) 
Ten percent of the maximum debt service limit must 
be transferred in fiscal year 2003-04; 
(2) 
Fifteen percent of the maximum debt service limit 
must be transferred in fiscal year 2004 05; 
(3) 
Twenty percent of the maximum debt service limit 
must be transferred in fiscal year 2005 06; and 
(4) 
Twenty-five percent of the maximum debt service 
limit must be transferred in fiscal year 2006 07. 
Sec. 
2. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
The 
following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
EDUCATIOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
General Purpose Aid for Local Schools 
Ini tiative: 
Provides for a 
25'1-0 reduction in the allocation of 
funds that must be applied to the debt service limit under the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15905, subsection 1, 
paragraph A. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
2003-04 
($8,000,000) 
2004-05 
($12,600,000) 
($8,000,000) 
($12,600,000) 
Initiative: 
Provides for additional funds to be allocated to the 
School Revolving Renovation Fund for the renovation, replacement 
or repair of schools. 
Page l-LR1592(1) 
School Revolving Renovation Fund 
All Other 
School Revolving Renovation 
Fund Total 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPAR'l"MENT 'l'OTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
SCHOOL REVOLVING RENOVATION 
FUND 
DEP AR'l"MENT 'l'OTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
SUMMARY 
2003-04 
2004-05 
$8,000,000 
$12,600,000 
$8,000,000 
$12,600,000 
2003-04 
2004-05 
($8,000,000) 
($12,600,000) 
$8,000,000 
$12,600,000 
$0 
$0 
Under this bill, the Commissioner of Education is required 
to transfer debt service funds to be used to provide additional 
state subsidy to be distributed to school administrative units to 
offset 
school 
repair, 
replacement 
and 
renovation 
costs 
to 
increase 
the 
state 
share 
of 
school 
renovation, 
repair 
and 
replacement 
costs. 
The 
bill, 
in 
essence, 
freezes 
the 
debt 
service limit for state-supported school construction projects to 
the $80,000,000 debt service limit established for fiscal year 
2002-03; 
and, 
between 
fiscal 
year 
2003-04 
and 
fiscal 
year 
2006-07, requires the Commissioner of Education to transfer an 
increasing percentage of debt service funds to the foundation 
allocation component of the general purpose aid for local schools 
program. 
The bill also provides for a transfer of $8,000,000 in 
fiscal year 2003-04 and an additional $12,600,000 in fiscal year 
2004-05 from the state debt service allocation to the School 
Revolving Renovation Fund to increase the state share of school 
renovation, replacement and repair costs.