An Act To Authorize Department of Transportation Bond Issues in the Amount of $18,250,000 To Match Available Federal Funds for Improvements to and Development of Highways and Bridges; Airports; Ferry Vessels, Port Facilities and Marine Infrastructure; Rail Corridors and Structures; Intermodal Facilities; and Trail and Pedestrian Facilities
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1875
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: DAMON, MARLEY, McKENNEY

Legislative Document 
No. 1875 
S.P.723 
In Senate, February 25, 2004 
An Act To Authorize Department of Transportation Bond Issues in 
the Amount of $18,250,000 To Match Available Federal Funds for 
Improvements to and Development of Highways and Bridges; 
Airports; Ferry Vessels, Port Facilities and Marine Infrastructure; 
Rail Corridors and Structures; Intermodal Facilities; and Trail and 
Pedestrian Facilities 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator DAMON of Hancock. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Representative MARLEY of Portland and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senator: SA V AGE of Knox, Representative: McKENNEY of Cumberland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Preamble. 
Two 
thirds of both Houses of the Legislature 
deeming it necessary in accordance with the Constitution of 
Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize the issuance of bonds 
on behalf of the State of Maine to provide funds as described in 
this Act. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. Authorization of bonds. 
The Treasurer of State is 
authorized, under the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds 
in the name and on behalf of the State in an amount not exceeding 
$18,250,000 for the purposes described in section 6 of this Act. 
The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the 
State. 
The bonds may not run for a period longer than 10 years 
from the date of the original issue of 
the bonds. 
At 
the 
discretion of the Treasurer of State, with the approval of the 
Governor, any issuance of bonds may contain a call feature. 
Sec. 2. Records of bonds issued kept by Treasurer of State. 
The 
Treasurer of State shall keep an account of each bond showing the 
number of the bond, the name of the successful bidder to whom 
sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale and the 
date when payable. 
Sec. 3. 
Sale; 
how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. 
The 
Treasurer of State may 
negotiate the 
sale of 
the 
bonds 
by 
direction of the Governor, but no bond may be loaned, pledged or 
hypothecated on behalf of the State. 
The proceeds of the sale of 
the bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid 
by the Treasurer of State upon warrants 
drawn by the State 
Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set forth in 
this Act. 
Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion 
of the project in this Act lapse to the debt service account 
established for the retirement of these bonds. 
Sec. 4. Interest and debt retirement. 
The Treasurer of State 
shall pay interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this 
Act and all sums coming due for payment of bonds at maturity. 
Sec. 5. Disbursement of bond proceeds. 
The proceeds of the 
bonds must be expended as set out in this Act under the direction 
and supervision of the Commissioner of Transportation. 
Sec. 6. Allocations from General Fund and Highway Fund bond 
issues. 
The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under 
this Act must be expended as designated in the following schedule. 
TRABSPORTATICB, DEPARTMENT OF 
Page l-LR2799(1) 
Biqhvay Fund 
Highways and Bridges 
Biqhvay Fund Total 
General Fund 
Ferry Vessels, Port Facilities and 
Marine Infrastructure 
Railroad and Intermodal Facilities 
Airports 
Trail and Pedestrian Facilities 
General Fund Total 
$13,500,000 
$13,500,000 
$2,150,000 
1, 700,000 
250,000 
650,000 
$4,750,000 
Sec. 7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. 
Sections 1 to 
do not become effective unless the people of the State ratify 
the issuance of the bonds as set forth in this Act. 
Sec. 8. Appropriation balances at year-end. 
At the end of each 
fiscal year, all unencumbered appropriation balances representing 
state money carry forward. 
Bond proceeds that have not been 
expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds 
lapse to General Fund and Highway Fund debt service. 
Sec. 9. Bonds authorized but not issued. 
Any bonds authorized 
but not issued, or for which bond anticipation notes are not 
issued 
within 
years 
of 
ratification 
of 
this 
Act, 
are 
deauthorized and may not be issued, except that the Legislature 
may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, 
extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds or 
bond anticipation notes for an additional amount of time not to 
exceed 5 years. 
Sec. 10. Referendum for ratification; submission at general election: 
form of question; effective date. 
This Act must be submitted to the 
legal voters of the State at the next general election in the 
month of November following passage of this Act. 
The municipal 
officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their 
respecti ve ci ties, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner 
prescribed by law for holding a general election, to vote on the 
acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following 
question: 
"Do you favor an $18,250,000 bond issue for improvements to 
and development of highways 
and bridges; airports; 
ferry 
vessels, 
port facilities 
and marine infrastructure; 
rail 
corridors and structures; intermodal facilities; and trail 
and pedestrian facilities that makes the State eligible for 
up to $51, 250,000 in matching federal funds?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a 
cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below 
the word "Yes" or "No." 
The ballots must be received, sorted, 
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings 
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as 
votes for members of the Legislature. 
The Governor shall review 
the returns and, if a majority of the legal votes are cast in 
favor of this Act, the Governor shall proclaim the result without 
delay, and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of 
the proclamation. 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each 
city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this 
Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of 
$18,250,000, will be used for improvements to and development of 
highways and bridges; airports; ferry vessels, port facilities 
and 
marine 
infrastructure; 
rail 
corridors 
and 
structures; 
intermodal facilities; and trail and pedestrian facilities.