YORK and OGUNQUIT - While local voters will not be casting ballots to decide on a new president or governor this year, there are several state and local ballot questions to be decided at the Nov. 6 election.
Question 1 on the state ballot is a citizen initiative that asks voters whether they will support a request to allow a Maine tribe to run a harness racing track with slot machines and high-stakes Beano games in Washington County, while Question 5 is a referendum seeking to extend terms for Maine legislators from the current length of four years out to six years.
The remaining state questions are bond issue requests totaling $134 million in principal, according to the state treasurer's report that accompanies the ballot.
Question 2 asks voters whether they favor a bond issue to "stimulate economic development and job creation" and would make $5 million available for loans and grant funds and $50 million in research, development and commercialization funds for "targeted technology sectors, awarded after a competitive process administered by the Maine Technology Institute." The request is also expected to leverage at least $50 million in non-bond issue funds if it wins voter approval.
Question 3 asks voters to support a $43.5 million bond for renovations and additions at the Maine Community College campuses, the Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Maine System and to replenish the School Revolving Renovation Fund for school repairs and renovations and "support capital improvements for cultural and educational assets such as museums, historical facilities and libraries."
Question 4 asks voters to support bonding $35.5 million to invest in land conservation, water access, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, farmland and working waterfront and to invest in state parks, historic sites and riverfront, community and farm infrastructure. If approved, the request will result in $21,875,000 in private and public contributions.
In York, there are also multiple local questions on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Voters will decide about a dozen zoning and Comprehensive Plan related questions, including requests required by changes in state law that have had an impact on local regulations. Most are housekeeping requests, and all 11 that relate to zoning have received the full support of the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen.
Polls will be open at York High School from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, at absentee ballots are available at the Town Clerk's Office at York Town Hall.
Voters in Ogunquit will also have several local questions to decide, including a $2.6 million bond request for improvements to Marginal Way. The Ogunquit Board of Selectmen and the Budget Review Committee have given their unanimous support to the request.
Other budgetary ballot items include $560,000 for a new ladder truck for the Ogunquit Fire Department and a request to spend no more than $11,600 from undesignated surplus for a 2006 Crown Victoria police vehicle.
While the Board of Selectmen and Budget Review Committee have given their full endorsement to the smaller sum for the police vehicle, the selectmen voted 3-2 in favor of the ladder truck expenditure request in their preference vote, while the Budget Review Committee voted 4-0 to support it.
The polls in Ogunquit will be open on from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 and absentee ballots are available at the Ogunquit Town Clerk's Office.
For more information on voting in the Ogunquit election, call 646-9546. To find out more about voting in York, call 363-1003.
