Like a homeowner who relies on equity loans to fix a crumbling structure, state-issued bonds allow the government to start projects now while paying principal and interest later. While a heavy debt load can also weigh heavily on the economy, when interest rates are low like they are today, funding necessary projects with bonds is a smart idea.

On Nov. 5’s statewide ballot, Mainers will face five questions. They include funding the Maine community college system, as well as transportation projects such as highways, harbors and railroads. In total, voters could approve about $150 million in new spending on Nov. 5. The largest spending proposal, Question 3, would leverage $154 million in federal matching funds, as a way to offset that initial sticker shock. In addition to needed infrastructure and educational improvements, the work funded by the bonds provides jobs and investments in state colleges and their students.

While we believe the referendums merit strong consideration by Maine voters, we do so with a bit of hesitation, since the questions are so badly worded. Mainers shouldn’t be expected to read and comprehend a set of complicated spending proposals while standing in the voting booth. One or two referendums per election cycle would be more than enough. Five, as we have on Tuesday, is ridiculous.

The questions, which read like legal scrawl, demand prior contemplation. Voters expecting to swoop into the voting booth and grasp the implications of each question will have a hard time for sure. So, for those who would like to research the questions before Tuesday, the Maine Secretary of State’s office provides the Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election, which can be found online at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/2013/citizensguide2013.pdf.

While the questions as posed on the ballot fail to elaborate on the exact spending proposal or debt service obligation, the citizen’s guide makes a valiant effort to fill in the blanks.

Education and transportation are worthy uses of taxpayer money and deserve our support on Tuesday.

Question 1:

Do you favor a $14,000,000 bond issue to provide funds for the state’s share of maintenance, repair, capital improvement, modernization and energy efficiency projects for Maine Army National Guard readiness centers and support facilities and the purchase of land for training and to draw down federal matching funds?

Question 2:

Do you favor a $15,500,000 bond issue to enhance educational and employment opportunities for Maine citizens and students by updating and improving existing laboratory and classroom facilities of the University of Maine System statewide?

Question 3:

Do you favor a $100,000,000 bond issue for reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities or equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation and transit, to be used to match an estimated $154,000,000 in federal and other funds?

Question 4:

Do you favor a $4,500,000 bond issue to provide funds for a public-private partnership for a building project for a new science facility at the Maine Maritime Academy to be matched by other funds?

Question 5:

Do you favor a $15,500,000 bond issue to upgrade buildings, classrooms and laboratories on the 7 campuses of the Maine Community College System in order to increase capacity to serve more students through expanded programs in health care, precision machining, information technology, criminal justice and other key programs?