There is a very important special election in South Portland on June 9. The proposed Charter amendment has the potential to save the city significant money.

South Portland Finance Director, Greg L’Heureux, explains it this way, “This amendment provides the city council with flexibility in determining the method by which the city sells it bonds. Currently, the city can only sell its bonds at a public sale. The purpose of this charter amendment is to allow the City Council, with a two-thirds vote, to sell them directly if it is in the best interest of the city. This item is brought about by the possibility of the city receiving federal stimulus money to be used for capital projects. Funding for the Long Creek Pump Station would flow (if the amendment passes) through the Maine Municipal Bond Bank as a partially forgiven loan with the balance as a zero interest loan. The city has historically not been able to use the Maine Municipal Bond Bank to sell its bonds due to its charter requirements of public sale.

This charter change would also allow the school to participate in the Maine Department of Education’s School Revolving Renovation Program that provides interest free loans and partial loan forgiveness to eligible school systems for health, safety and compliance improvements to school facilities, as well as other Department of Education approved project. All items proposed in the $5.8 million school voter referendum are items that will have applications submitted for funding under this program.”

South Portland may be the only municipality who cannot use the Maine Municipal Bond Bank to get interest free or loan forgiveness loans because of our current Charter language. A sample ballot can be downloaded or viewed at www.southportland.org. Please vote on June 9.

Maxine Beecher

South Portland City Council, District Four