GORHAM – Gorham voters on Tuesday, June 11, will decide whether the town will construct a $6.3 million public safety headquarters in Little Falls.

In a separate referendum, voters also are asked if they favor a nearly $33 million school spending plan that hikes the Gorham taxpayers share by $1.3 million.

Meanwhile, the Gorham Town Council on Tuesday postponed its vote on a proposed $13.2 million municipal budget until Tuesday, June 18, as the town hopes to hear from the state about its revenue sharing allotment.

“These are tough budgeting times, and the town is faced with many different budgeting choices,” Town Council Chairman Philip Gagnon said Wednesday. “The state’s inability to honor its revenue sharing commitments has put Gorham in a position that could force the council to pass further tax increases onto the townspeople, beyond what would occur with the passing of the $6.3 million referendum and school budget.”

Regarding the public safety building referendum, a town committee has said that the present Public Safety Building at 270 Main St. is inadequate, and recommends a facility be built to house police and fire departments at the site of the Little Falls School.

“Our public safety departments need better working conditions,” Town Councilor Suzanne Phillips, who serves on the Gorham Public Safety Committee, said Wednesday. “The voters will decide if the solution is a new facility at a different location.”

Under a new project, a fire substation would remain with two fire trucks at the present Central Station. while ambulances would be housed in Little Falls.

According to figures on the ballot, a public safety project at Little Falls would cost $8.3 million including about $2 million in interest with a bond over 20 years. The Town Council recommends a yes vote.

Those who opposed the project worry about the costs and that relocating public safety headquarters out of Gorham Village would jeopardize response times. A Gorham resident, Bernard Broder, is urging voters to reject the proposal.

“I am concerned that Gorham voters need to take this referendum seriously due to both the financial impact and potential public safety deficiencies that I believe it presents,” Broder said.

Town Manager David Cole said on Tuesday that Gorham would not be left with areas uncovered. Cole said a station in North Scarborough responds to South Gorham emergencies and Gorham also has fire stations in West Gorham, White Rock and North Gorham. He said fire trucks remaining at 270 Main St. would continue to cover Gorham Village.

Cole said a fire truck with medical personnel is the first responder to a medical emergency.

“We don’t expect responses to be impacted for fire, medical or police calls,” Cole said.

Broder raised a concern about a response in case of school violence. Four of Gorham’s five schools are in the village area with one, Narragansett School, adjacent to the present Public Safety Building.

“With all the recent happenings involving violent attacks at schools, once again the question presents why are we moving our public safety building away from town,” Broder said. “Aren’t our children safer with public safety buildings located right next door?”

A Gorham Public Safety Committee study found that the present facility on Main Street is short of overall space, lacks adequate facilities for men and women employees who share unisex bathroom and shower, lack of elevator, and no sprinkler system in the building. The committee reviewed seven alternatives as potential remedies including renovating the present facility but reported there are limited opportunities there for expansion and parking.

The committee decided on a complex at the Little Falls School. But the former school has served for several months as a meeting place for a senior citizens group.

According to the referendum question, space in the present building would be converted to a community center and recreation use.

After touring the Public Safety Building and having attended forums about the issue, Blanche Alexander, president of the Lakes Region Senior Center, has concluded there’s a need for better facilities for the town’s fire and police departments.

“I respect the work of the committee that has dedicated many hours into the investigation of relocation vs. rebuilding/expanding at 270 Main St.,” Alexander said. “Although, as president of the Lakes Region Senior Center, I would very much like for us to remain at Little falls School, I will respect the decision of the voters next week.”

In school referendums, voters will either approve or reject a $32.9 million school budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The request is up $702,799 over the present $32.2 million budget. But it raises the local taxpayers share to $14,990,123 from $13,690,064, up $1.3 million according to School Department figures posted on its web site.

In action Tuesday, the town council approved the school budget 6-1 (Matthew Robinson opposed).

Robinson cited a 9.5 percent school budget increase for local taxpayers. In this economy, “people are struggling,” Robinson said. “I’m not supporting any increase this year.”

Voters are also being asked whether they want to continue having the school budget referendum for the next three years. Without an annual school budget referendum, final approval would be in the Town Council’s hands.