BIDDEFORD — Is the condition of city streets getting you down? Voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to bond about $12.25 million over 20 years to repair about 35 miles of streets and roads in the city.

As well, voters will decide on a $3.6 million, 20-year bond to repair what is under the streets ”“ namely separating and upgrading combined or individual storm water and sanitary sewer systems in the city.

The city council last week voted to put both items to the voter test. If approved, the bonds would add about 45 cents to the city’s mil rate, which was $17.53 for the year that ended June 30. This year’s rate is in the process of being calculated, according to the city assessor’s office.

The bond payment for street repair would come to about $805,000 annually ”“ just slightly more than half the $1.5 million the city has put toward paving and road reconstruction each year for the past several years.

Councilors also mulled putting a third bond to the voters ”“ most of which would go toward rehabilitating the City Hall clock tower, along with some City Hall renovations like new windows and a sprinkler system, but decided against that measure. Some said the prospect of three bonds ”“ with the third going mostly toward the clock tower ”“ might be too much for residents and prompt them to scuttle the entire bond package in the voting booth.

Councilor Marc Lessard said the road project would be a “huge catalyst” for the area. As well as economic benefits, he said vehicles that pass over the roads will be in better shape as a result of the program.

But Lessard, like some others, urged caution. Lessard said he didn’t want to risk the chance that voters would see three bond questions, figure it was all too much money, and vote against all of them.

“If you put out three bonds to voters, they might reject them,” he said.

Public Works Director Guy Casavant said the road resurfacing, drainage projects, rebuilding of some sidewalks and road reconstruction would be accomplished over time. He said an advantage of the bonding, besides the lower annual cost, is more favorable pricing.

While a firm interest rate isn’t laid down, the maximum the city is expected to pay would be 3.8 percent, which it has used in its calculations.

Some councilors expressed concern that voters could end up approving the road work bond and not the sewage bond.

Mayor Alan Casavant said the bond referendums will require a significant effort to inform the public why the bonds are good for the city.

“We have to come up with a mechanism to say why this is a good move,” the mayor said. “The biggest problem is the education piece.”

He said not everyone watches public access television or reads newspapers.

Councilor Robert Hurtubise suggested meetings in each ward.

The question of a $2 million bond to renovate City Hall was tabled until the second meeting in February. It included $1.75 million for renovations to City Hall clock tower, $80,000 for City Hall window replacement and $175,000 for a sprinkler system.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.