Maine Gov. Mills Presents Economics Bond Package Aimed at Fixing Roads and Bridges and Land Conservation in Honor of Maine Sportsman George A. Smith
Governor
The proposal dedicates
Smith, an avid outdoorsman and advocate for conservation, was a champion of the LMF program. The package, which has broad support among organizations across the state, also aligns with the intent of several bond proposals introduced by lawmakers.
"As we push full speed ahead on our economic recovery, now is the time to conserve in perpetuity the natural resources that form the backbone of our rural economy. In honor of
The bond proposal is scaled-back from the preview offered by
With its focus on land conservation and continued commitment to fixing roads and bridges and other transportation modes, the new bond proposal complements the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan. It also comes at a time when interest rates remain at historic lows, according to Maine State Treasurer
"We will be entering the market having just received better than expected revenue forecasts thanks to the Governor's fiscal management and Federal assistance," said
Under the leadership of
Conserving Working Lands for Maine People:
The Land for
Since then, LMF has conserved nearly 604,000 acres of land, more than half of which - 333,425 acres - has been working lands. This includes 41 farms and 9,755 acres of farmlands and 26 commercial working waterfront properties, along with 1,272 miles of shorelines of rivers, lakes and ponds, 58 miles of coastline, and 158 miles of former railroad corridors for recreational trails.
However, the fund is nearly depleted. If the Fund is replenished, LMF can continue its robust conservation efforts, leveraging Federal funding enacted last year through The Great American Outdoors Act, which is expected to send tens of millions of dollars to the state for protection and conservation efforts.
"This funding is crucial to achieving the next generation of land conservation in
"People have flocked to
"
"This past year record numbers of families headed outdoors seeking healthy activity at our State Parks, land trust preserves, and other conserved lands. Now real estate markets are accelerating, threatening public access to
"
"
"Land conservation at all scales can provide resilience to climate change. Conserved lands with functioning ecosystems absorb current stresses like flooding and offer resilience for future conditions, as climate change refugia or migration corridors. That is why the
Maintaining
The
* 304 miles of highway preservation paving, totaling
* 74 highway safety and spot improvement projects, totaling
* 28 miles of highway reconstruction and rehabilitation, totaling over
* 68 bridge projects, totaling
* 33 multimodal projects including rail, port, transit, and active transportation projects totaling almost
*
According to Federal estimates, this transportation bond and matching funds will support thousands of good-paying jobs now and lay the foundation for economic prosperity in the long-term. If the capital funding for transportation represented by this bond is not provided, MaineDOT will need to dramatically cut back its Work Plan for 2022.
"State bonding remains critical to delivering our Work Plan," said MaineDOT Commissioner
"Transportation impacts everyone in
"Investment in
The proposed bond builds on the Governor's commitment of
The Governor is expected to also unveil her supplemental budget, or part two budget, in the coming days.
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