QUESTION 3: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Restore Historic Community Buildings, Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?

This is a modest amount of borrowing for a responsible end. If the state does not issue these competitive grants, there’s a very real risk of scores of interesting and meaningful buildings, buildings that are intrinsic to the “fabric” of Maine, falling into unconquerable dereliction and disrepair. We’re talking about the restoration of historic local buildings “such as public libraries, town halls, theaters, art galleries and community gathering places.”

Some might argue that this is a “nice to have” question, something that the state could simply do without funding.

But the risk we outlined above is, in our view, too significant an opportunity cost. We prefer to believe that badly needed restoration of spaces that should be maximized for the common good is something that will pay off; our communities benefit from having access to venues that are safe and welcoming, even inviting. We lose sight of and lose out on the value of our shared history without taking care to protect it. And we all benefit from taking steps to preserve historical structures in our towns and cities which, by and large, were much harder-won and far more thoughtfully constructed than their modern counterparts.

While a tranche of $10 million represents nothing like a panacea for this category of building statewide, if the alternative to this bond is to let government agencies and nonprofits across the state scrabble around for cash for very worthy and worthwhile restoration and repairs, we’d prefer to vote in favor of this shot in the arm.