LISBON — Lisbon voters approved borrowing up to $1.4 million to fund road work projects and a new fire truck in a trio of bond questions on Tuesday’s ballot.
Town officials have said the road work bonds will save the town money in the long run. The bonds would help Lisbon fund 10 percent of the project, while the Maine Department of Transportation would foot the rest of the bill. Lisbon could be on the hook for more of the bill if the project were stalled.
The first question covers the town’s match of $294,000 for work from Huston Street to the Urban Compact line. Voters approved the question 2,518 to 1,315. The second road project question covers the town’s match of $430,000 from the Route 196 intersection of Main Street up to Huston Street, which voters approved 2,533 to 1,330.
The planned construction includes rebuilding Main Street and improving sidewalks and other pedestrian access. Town officials hope to save some money by completing needed repairs to the water and sewer system on Main Street simultaneously.
Work is slated to begin around the spring of 2020. The has already set aside some money for the work, with about $153,000 saved for DOT matching funds and $403,000 in TIF revenue.
The final local referendum question on the local ballot was whether to borrow $675,000 for the purchase of a new fire truck. Lisbon’s fire department currently uses a 24-year-old truck with outdated technology. The electrical system doesn’t meet current standards and the truck is suffering from corrosion issues, the department has said. The vehicle is scheduled to be replaced in 2019. Lisbon voters backed that bond 2,463 to 1,412.
If the town has to borrow the full amount, the estimated tax rate increase would be 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For the fire truck, the rate would see a 15-cent increase per $1,000 of assessed value.
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