Scarborough voters cast their ballots on Tuesday afternoon. Drew Johnson/Leader

Scarborough voters passed by a vote of 8,902 to 5,321 a $6 million bond to replenish the town’s land acquisition fund, which is used to contribute to purchasing land for conservation, preserving wildlife habitats or recreation.

Voters also approved, 9,991 to 4,336 votes, that $1 million be spent on body-worn and cruiser cameras for the Police Department. A fire truck will also be replaced for $1 million with approval from 9,412 voters while 5,042 were opposed.

It is the fifth time residents have voted on the land fund, created via a $1.5 million referendum in 2000 with nearly 75% of voters approving the bond then. It was replenished in 2003 with $2.5 million with 71.1% of voters in favor; in 2009 with $1 million and 67.6% of voters in favor; and in 2019 with $2.5 million and 57.9% of voters in favor.

Individual residents, nonprofits and other organizations are able to apply for funding that can be used for conservation projects. The town’s Parks and Conservation Land Board vets the applications and provides a recommendation to the Town Council. The council then votes on whether to expend the money from the fund toward the purchase.

The funds aren’t immediately expended, so the impact on taxpayers is unclear. However, town officials estimate that if the $6 million was spent over the next three years, the owner of a home assessed at $600,000 would pay an average of $21 per year for the first 10 years of the bond. That would drop to an average of $14 in the years after.

Proponents, including the Scarborough Land Trust which is the most frequent beneficiary of the fund, argued that it is a crucial tool in conserving land in Scarborough.

“The results are fantastic,” Andrew Mackie, executive director of the land trust, told the Leader on Wednesday. “The town has a long track record with the land bond; it’s an open and transparent process that they go through to review every project, and we’ve had amazing results.”

Mackie listed Pleasant Hill Preserve, Warren Woods and Broadturn Farm as some examples of properties the land fund has helped conserve.

A long line forms at Scarborough High School on Tuesday as voters wait to slip their ballots into the voting machines. Drew Johnson/Leader

Mackie said the bond is critical if the town is to meet many of its goals.

“This is something that is really needed in terms of some of the goals the town has set for itself, like the 30-by-30 goal, the comprehensive plan and soon-to-be-finished open space plan,” he said.

The Yes on 3 campaign in favor of the bond rallied the support of 19 businesses and organizations.

“This is a great outcome for Scarborough and we appreciate that voters turned out for this issue,” wrote Christine Labaree, volunteer chair of the Yes on 3 campaign and land trust board member, in an email to the Leader. “Protecting natural areas, waterways and other special places and preserving access for residents is important to the town’s future.” 

Mackie and Labaree thanked the organizations, businesses and individuals who got behind the cause.

“Especially all the volunteers who knocked on doors, wrote letters, called friends and neighbors and spread the word on the importance of funding conservation in our community,” Labaree said.

Opponents, such as Scarborough Maine Advocates for Reasonable Taxes (SMARTaxes), argued taxpayers shouldn’t have to contribute to land purchases if they don’t want to and can instead donate directly to organizations like the land trust.

“We’re disappointed we couldn’t convince Scarborough voters that the land bond was about more than just conservation and that it unfairly required all taxpayers to support a single charitable cause,” Susan Hamill of SMARTaxes wrote in an email to the Leader on Wednesday morning. “Many residents viewed the land bond as a solution to the town’s rapid growth. While we disagree with that conclusion, we hope town leaders recognize that residents find the current growth trajectory unacceptable.”

Some also believe the $6 million price tag is too high following a recent town-wide revaluation with major investments, such as in the town’s schools and library, on the horizon.