WATERBORO — An ambitious project to upgrade the entire athletic complex at Massabesic High School was defeated in all six Regional School Unit 57 communities in Tuesday’s election.

The $4.9 million bond package was defeated by more than a 2-1 margin, with 7,964 votes against it and 3,990 votes in favor of it.

The 15-year bond was designed to pay the lion’s share ”“ $4.9 million ”“ of a $6.8 million overhaul of the athletic complex on the grounds of Massabesic High School. While the bond was designed to pay for roughly two-thirds of the cost of the project, the remainder of the money was to come from a mix of grants, donations and corporate sponsorships, along with money from the capital reserve, which is part of the annual budget funded by taxpayers.

The project included resurfacing the track; widening the field surface to accommodate soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and other field sports; installing a synthetic surface on the field, adding bleachers, upgrading softball and baseball fields to allow for home games; constructing new tennis courts for high school competition and public use; adding bathroom facilities (portable toilets are now in use), storage facilities, parking and a new maintenance facility; and replacing fencing to improve security and, proponents say, control access to the fields more efficiently.

But taxpayers were thinking about their wallets in Tuesday’s vote. Based on a home value of $150,000, a taxpayer in Alfred would pay an additional $26.82 per year in taxes for the next 15 years; Limerick taxpayers would pay an extra $29.16, Lyman $24.56, Newfield and Shapleigh $20.88 and Waterboro $30.96.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].