South Portland will decide whether to make $5.8 million worth of upgrades to the city’s high school and two middle schools.

The South Portland City Council voted unanimously Monday to send a bond proposal to voters on June 2 for a citywide vote.

Voting for the bond were Mayor Tom Blake and councilors Linda Boudreau, Patti Smith, Tom Coward and Maxine Beecher. Councilors Jim Soule and Jim Hughes were absent.

It was only two years ago that city voters overwhelmingly rejected a $56 million school bond proposal for rebuilding South Portland High School. Voters complained the bond was too costly.

A special committee of residents and school leaders vowed at the time to return to voters with a less expensive renovation plan for the high school.

But the Secondary Schools Facilities Committee shelved a major renovation high school plan, as the economy soured and the school department began making major cuts to staff and programming.

The $5.8 million plan the Council endorsed on second reading covers maintenance and much-needed repairs at South Portland High and the two middle schools: Memorial and Mahoney.

The 21-year borrowing plan will allow for upgrades to electricity, ventilation, security, fire-safety and handicapped access.

Each of the five councilors at Monday’s meeting spoke in favor of the bond issue.

“Renovations are overdue,” said Coward. “I can see the logic behind all of these. It’s a good project. I hope it passes.”

“We’re paying the price for not having a maintenance plan,” said Smith. “It’s important to give our students a quality education.”

The only councilor to raise significant questions on funding for the updates was Soule, who was not at the meeting Monday. He had questioned why stimulus funds from the federal government could not be applied to the updates.

School officials had replied that they do not have details yet on how stimulus dollars may be spent.

Monday night school board member Rick Carter urged the public to “take the time to look at what’s being repaired and see if you can say we don’t need the maintenance. These are safety issues.”

Resident Albert DiMillo, a retired CPA, spoke against the proposal, which he has done at previous Council meetings. He had handouts to support his figures and assertions.

He strongly disagreed with the need for the bond issue, saying that the school department has about $5 million in reserves available that may be used for building upgrades and maintenance.

“You don’t need to borrow the money,” said DiMillo. “You have the cash. Why borrow at a higher cost?”

DiMillo also claimed the school department will be in danger of losing its reserve cash to the state if it doesn’t spend the money soon.

His assertion was disputed by Carter, who said the school board conducts an independent audit each year and that the results state that the school department is at no risk of having the money withdrawn.