November 2010 Ballot Questions Information

Question 1: Citizen Initiative


Ballot Question: Do you want to allow a casino with table games and slot machines at a single site in Oxford County, subject to local approval, with part of the profits going to specific state, local and tribal programs?

Question 1 is a citizen initiative that would authorize the Gambling Control Board to license a casino at a single site in Oxford County for the operation of table games and slot machines. The casino could be licensed to operate up to 1,500 slot machines and would be the only place in the state where table games are allowed.

To be eligible for a casino license, the operator must own a facility at which harness racing was conducted in the 2009 racing year. The only facility that meets this requirement is the Oxford County Fairgrounds, which conducted harness racing in 2009 under a state license. The casino also must meet other minimum requirements including lot size, distance from the fairgrounds and proximity to police, hospitals and the interstate.

The casino would also have to be approved by the municipality where it is to be located. The local vote must be held on or before December 31, 2011. Renewal of a casino license would also require local approval.

After January 1, 2011, no other casino or slot machine facility could be licensed unless it is first approved by voters in a statewide referendum, as well as by the municipal officers or voters of the municipality where it is to be located.

The casino operator would be required to turn over 46% of the net revenue from slot machines and 16% of the net revenue from table games to the Gambling Control Board for distribution to a variety of state and local programs in specified amounts. 25% of the net revenue from slot machines and 10% of the net revenue from table games would be used to supplement (but not supplant) funding for essential programs and services in public schools. The remainder of the net slot machine revenue would be distributed in amounts, ranging from 1% to 4%, to the University of Maine System and Maine Community College System scholarship programs, the tribal governments of the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Agricultural Fair Support Fund, the Sire Stakes Fund, a fund to supplement harness racing purses, and dairy farm stabilization programs. Net revenue from both slot machines and from table games would also be directed to the host municipality (2%), the host county (1%), and to support administrative costs of the Gambling Control Board (3%), which include counseling services for gambling addiction.

A YES vote is to enact the initiated legislation.

A NO vote opposes the initiated legislation.


Question 2: Bond Issue

Ballot Question: Do you favor a $5,000,000 bond issue to be awarded on a competitive basis to increase access to dental care in Maine, $3,500,000 to be used for a community-based teaching dental clinic affiliated with or operated by a college of dental medicine to be matched by $3,500,000 in other funds, and $1,500,000 to be used to create or upgrade community-based health and dental care clinics across the State to increase their capacity as teaching and dental clinics?

Question 2 would authorize the State to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 to raise funds to be used for a community-based teaching dental clinic and to create or upgrade community-based health and dental clinics across the State to increase their capacity as teaching and dental clinics. The bonds would run for a period not longer than 10 years from the date of issue and would be backed by the full faith and credit of the State. The bonds may not be issued before July 1, 2011.

Proceeds of the sale of the bonds are to be awarded on a competitive basis and would be expended under the direction and supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services as follows:

$3,500,000 must be expended for a community-based teaching clinic affiliated with or operated by a college of dental medicine and must be matched with $3,500,000 in other funds.

$1,500,000 must be expended to create or upgrade community-based health and dental care clinics across the State to increase their capacity as teaching and dental clinics.

A YES vote approves the authorization of the $5,000,000 bond issue to finance all of the activities.

A NO vote disapproves the bond issue in its entirety.


Question 3: Bond Issue

Ballot Question: Do you favor a $9,750,000 bond issue to invest in land conservation and working waterfront preservation and to preserve state parks to be matched by $9,250,000 in federal and other funds?

Question 3 would authorize the State to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $9,750,000 to raise funds to invest in: the acquisition of land and interest in land for conservation, water access, outdoor recreation, wildlife and fish habitat, farmland preservation and working waterfront preservation. The bonds would run for a period not longer than 10 years from the date of issue and would be backed by the full faith and credit of the State.

Proceeds of the sale of the bonds would be expended as follows:

$9,250,000 would be expended under the direction and supervision of the Land for Maine’s Future Board, as follows:

$6,500,000 must be spent for the acquisition of land for conservation, water access, and wildlife and fish habitat, outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, and farmland preservation. The bond funds must be matched with at least $6,500,000 in public and private contributions.

$1,750,000 must be made available to protect working waterfront properties that support commercial fisheries businesses in accordance with the Maine Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program. Grants for working waterfront projects would have to be matched, dollar for dollar, by the local governments or organizations receiving the grants and would be made subject to a condition that the property may not be used, altered or developed in a manner that precludes its use by commercial fisheries businesses.

$1,000,000 must be made available to preserve working farmland. Grants for the preservation of farmlands would be made when matching funds are available from cooperating entities.

With the exception of working waterfront projects and farmland preservation projects, hunting, fishing, trapping and public access may not be prohibited on lands acquired with these bond proceeds, unless required by applicable federal, state or local laws.

$500,000 would be expended by the Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks and Lands to preserve state parks and properties managed by the Department of Conservation.

A YES vote approves the authorization of the $9,750,000 bond issue to finance all of the activities.

A NO vote disapproves the bond issue in its entirety.