Gov. John Baldacci says he wants to float $397 million in bonds over the next three years, making up for last year, when no bonding was approved because of partisan politics. The bonds, which would have to be approved on a statewide ballot, include:

• $131 million for transportation;

• $131 million for research and development and business growth;

• $97 million for conservation, protecting the environment and quality places;

• $33 million for infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine, community colleges and Maine Maritime Academy.

The governor said the bonds will generally replace debt that is being retired, and any new money needed to make the bond payments will be found by cutting back in government spending.

Baldacci said he will not raise the meals and lodging tax to help pay for investments, as some had feared.

“For me,” he said, the tax hike is not an option.

The governor unveiled his bond package in a room packed with people from organizations and departments that will get money if the proposal passes with a two-thirds bipartisan vote of the Legislature and then on the ballot. Baldacci’s plan would ask voters to approve bonds in two parts – some on a special June ballot and others in November.

On top of the list, at least in the mind of Republicans, is the Department of Transportation. Republicans last week recommended a $180 million transportation bond, with a piece of it going out to the voters as early as this June. Republicans took a hard line against any bonds last year, putting them in the uncomfortable position of opposing money for roads and bridges.

Maine, like other states, has seen its transportation budget eroded by inflation at a time when many of the state’s roads and bridges are hitting their maximum lifespan. Maine is also getting less revenue for transportation projects from the gas tax as fuel consumption drops with higher prices.

Department of Transportation Commissioner David Cole said he was grateful to Baldacci for his proposal.

“It’s unprecedented support,” Cole said. “It doesn’t solve our long-term problem, but it wasn’t meant to.”

In the governor’s proposal, $100 million would go to roads and bridges and $31 million would go to other modes of transportation, including close to $17 million for railroads.

The greatest chunk of the research and development/business growth money – $80 million of the $131 million – would go to the Maine Technology Institute, which awards grants to start-up businesses.

Under conservation, Land for Maine’s Future would get $35 million; $20 million would be spent on waster water projects; $10 million would be for capital improvements at parks and historic sites; and, $5 million would go to preserve working waterfront.

Sen. Richard Rosen, the assistant minority leader, said his fellow Republicans will have to look at the details before deciding how to vote. “It’s a larger number than we’ve traditionally seen in the past,” he said of the overall bond proposal, but the amount earmarked for transportation projects is less than Republicans wanted.

Rosen said the question will be how much can the state can afford to bond in addition to transportation given the other pressures on the budget.

“There are four big chunks of the budget,” Rosen said: K-12 education; Medicaid; un-funded liability for retiree health benefits and pensions; and the debt service.

“Our capacity to bond is really unlimited,” he said. “What we can afford is the question.”

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