Sec. 6. Allocations from General Fund bond issue; construct new or retrofit existing pollution control structures on Maine farms to protect the environment, to construct environmentally sound water sources that help avoid drought damage to crops, and to recapitalize the Potato Market Improvement Fund. The proceeds of the sale of bonds must be expended as designated in the following schedule.

AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL

RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF

Construction of new or retrofitting $1,250,000

of existing pollution control

structures on Maine farms to comply

with Maine law. These state funds

will be matched with federal and

private funds.

Construction of environmentally $1,000,000

sound water sources that help

avoid drought damage to crops.

Recapitalize the Potato Market $2,000,000

Improvement Fund. These state

funds will match private funds

and be used to construct potato

storage facilities.

__________

TOTAL ALLOCATIONS $4,250,000

Sec. 7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. Sections 1 to 6 do not become effective unless the people of the State have ratified the issuance of bonds as set forth in this Act.

Sec. 8. Appropriation balances at year-end. At the end of each fiscal year, all unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. Bond proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds lapse to General Fund debt service.

Sec. 9. Bonds authorized but not issued. Any bonds authorized but not issued, or for which bond anticipation notes are not issued

within 5 years of ratification of this Act, are deauthorized and may not be issued; except that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds or bond anticipation notes for an additional amount of time not to exceed 5 years.

Sec. 10. Referendum for ratification; submission at statewide election; form of question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State of Maine at a statewide election held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November following passage of this Act. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:

"Do you favor a $4,250,000 bond issue for the following purposes:

1. $1,250,000 to construct new or retrofit existing pollution control structures on Maine farms to protect the environment;

2. $1,000,000 to construct environmentally sound water sources that help avoid drought damage to crops; and

3. $2,000,000 to recapitalize the Potato Market Improvement Fund?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns and, if a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall proclaim the result without delay, and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of the proclamation.

The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purpose of this referendum.

SUMMARY

The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of

$4,250,000, will be used for the following purposes:

1. $1,250,000 to construct new or retrofit existing pollution control structures on Maine farms to protect the environment;

2. $1,000,000 to construct environmentally sound water sources that help avoid drought damage to crops; and

3. $2,000,000 to recapitalize the Potato Market Improvement Fund.