Biddeford residents could be asked to decide on a newly-reduced $26 million bond package in November to fund ongoing sewer separation work and improvements to the city’s Parks and Recreation facilities.

At an Aug. 5 City Council meeting, councilors voted 6-1 to reduce the sewer overflow bond package from $40 million to $20 million. Councilor Norman Belanger was the only one opposed to the reduction. The new bond package will now go before the council for final consideration at a special meeting on Aug. 26.

That evening, the council will hear from the public and hold a final vote on whether to advance the two bonds to the voters. According to Mayor Martin Grohman, both bonds are considered general obligation, or non-revenue generating, bonds.

The sewer bond package would fund the city’s state-mandated sewer separation projects, which acting City Manager Brian Phinney said could end up costing the city nearly $100 million in total.

Over the next 10 years, the city will be expected to spend $40 million on sewer separation projects, a number that many city councilors said voters wouldn’t be able to face all at once.

“I talked to a lot of people leading up to this meeting. A lot of them said $40 million is a huge sticker shock,” Council President Liam LaFountain said. “I don’t think $40 million is going to be viable to pass.”

Councilor Marc Lessard agreed, noting that although the sewer separation project is state-mandated work that has to be completed, taxpayers are “not going to support” a bond that is too high.

“We need to be able to get a bond passed that people are going to support,” Lessard said. “I don’t think the taxpayers are going to support $40 million.”

Biddeford residents also spoke at the meeting. Resident and former City Councilor Steve St. Cyr said he understands the city has to complete the sewer separation project, but it seems that there should be state or federal funding to pay for the project.

Resident Sam Pecor also said he believes there should be funding available to offset costs of the project.

“I’d really like real clarification on what resources we’ve explored for either financing this or helping pay for this,” Pecor said.

Phinney said staff will continue to research any funding resources available, but most funding resources are competitive and there is no guarantee the city will receive the funds.

Also at the Aug. 5 meeting, councilors voted 6-1 to send a $6 million recreation facilities bond to the Aug. 26 special meeting. In July, the council discussed a $2 million recreation facilities bond, but Mayor Martin Grohman said that $6 million was “always contemplated as the figure,” and the discussed $2 million was “a placeholder” as the council considered the range of possible projects and what funding would be needed.

“The $6 million is certainly representative of the need,” Grohman said. “I hope it gains community support.”

Belanger was the opposing vote.

If approved by voters, the bond would support improvements to the city’s Parks and Recreation facilities, including the Community Center, playgrounds, a new skate park, and other facilities.

LaFountain championed the bond, saying he has heard support from many community members who value recreation areas.

“The majority of people said that even if they didn’t support it, they had no issue with it being on the ballot for consideration,” LaFountain said. “This is giving it to the voters to determine if they want to invest their dollars into recreation.”

While most councilors were in favor of sending the bond to vote, some voiced concerns about the timing.

Belanger said that voters might feel overwhelmed at the cost of two bonds on the ballot, which might cause them to reject the sewer bond.

“I think that now is not the right time. I’m not willing to take the risk that we lose the combined sewer overflow funding,” Belanger said. “It’s not that I think recreation is not important. I think it’s very important.”

Councilor Doris Ortiz said she understands the fear of having two bonds on the ballot, but continues to hear the desire for recreation spaces from the community.

“We’ve had many citizens come to us about recreation,” Ortiz said. “I think everyone should get to have a say in what they want in their community.”

A second reading of the sewer bond package is expected to take place on Aug. 26, and both bonds will go to ballot on Nov. 4 if voters approve.