Federal money for the MDI YMCA, Labs, High School, and Bar Harbor Infrastructure Could Be Off the Table

Carrie Jones

Mar 12, 2025

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate.

AUGUSTA—The recent federal resolution that was put forward Tuesday and meant to prevent a partial shutdown of United States government passed the House 217-213 could have implications on multiple local projects. The resolution now moves to the Senate for action, and the deadline for the Senate action is 12:01 a.m. on March 15. The resolution mostly flatlines spending, but increases military spending by $6 billion. Maine Representative Jared Golden was the only Democrat who voted in favor.

The bill itself doesn’t include earmarks acquired by Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I). Many of those earmarks support organizations in the Mount Desert Island area and Acadia National Park.

Those earmarks include almost $1.5 million for a proposed expansion of the Mount Desert Island YMCA in Bar Harbor, over $1 million for the expansion of the Swan’s Island Fire and Ambulance Station, $300,000 for the Trenton Grange renovation, almost $2 million for the MDI Biological Laboratory, over $3 million for the Jackson Lab, and close to $5 million for the Schoodic Research Learning Center.

Infrastructure needs for both the town of Bar Harbor and the MDI High School are also among the funds. The Bar Harbor funds are $1.5 million of the town’s West Street pump station and a $4.7 million pump station at Mount Desert Island High School.

Earmarks are portions of spending bills where Congressional members push funds for specific projects in their states.

The House bill would allow the federal government to continue through September 30. The bill now goes to the Senate. As of 5 p.m., March 12, Senate Democrats are saying that they will not support it.

“Our caucus is unified on a clean April 11 C.R. that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass,” Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.

At least eight Democrats in the Senate need to support the bill for it to get to a final vote. However, an extension or changes would require the House to approve that extension or changes. The House adjourned on Tuesday.

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APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

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A complete list of earmarked funds in jeopardy are here and via the Bangor Daily News’ Billy Kobin.

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