Carrie Jones

Mar 24, 2026

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Through three yes or no decisions, Southwest Harbor voters approved money to fix the town’s public works garage and for shoreline repairs.

Three articles faced voters in a special town referendum election, March 24. The 256 voters who participated resoundingly passed all three.

Article 1 allows the town to apply for and receive state grants, federal grants, nonprofit revenues, and donations for the upcoming year. It passed 218-38.

Article 2 commits the town to a 25% match ($618,000) to fix its public works garage, which is currently uninsurable. The facility currently holds the town’s buses as well as its public works equipment. The match is required so that the town can receive Congressionally Directed Spending funds of $2.45 million. It passed 204-51.

Article 3 supports shoreline repairs at Harbor Avenue, Shore Road, Cable Crossing, and the Manset Dock. Those portions of the town’s shoreline were devastated in January 2024 storms. It passed 210-46.

The town has already received FEMA/MEMA funds of over $260k for the projects. The remainder of the work will be paid by the town, at an amount of $197k.

Also at the town’s Select Board meeting the same night, the Select Board voted to approve the bond authorization process for both projects, contingent on the voters’ approval.

Those motions included:

• (1) That projects consisting of upgrades to the Town’s Public Works Garage ($618,000) and repairs to four storm damaged areas ($197,000), including transaction costs and other expenses reasonably related thereto, is hereby approved.
• (2) That the Town Treasurer and Chair of the Select Board be authorized to issue a general obligation bond or bonds to the Maine Municipal Bond Bank in an amount not to exceed $815,000, for the purpose of funding the projects.
• (3) That the Treasurer and Chair be further authorized to fix the dates, maturities, denominations, interest rate, place of payment, form, and other details of said securities, including the execution, sale, and delivery of said securities against payment, therefore.
• (4) That the Treasurer and Chair be further authorized to execute a Loan Agreement with the Maine Municipal Bond Bank in such form as the Bank may require; that the Clerk is directed to affix the corporate seal thereto and attest the signatures of the Treasurer and Chair, and to file a copy of said Loan Agreement, when signed, although the attesting and affixing of the corporate seal thereto shall not be deemed essential to the validity of the Loan Agreement; and that the bonds are hereby sold to the Maine Municipal Bond Bank at par.
• (5) That the Select Board hereby confirms its determination that the term of the Bond does not exceed 120% of the economic life of the Projects.
• (6) That the bonds are designated “qualified tax-exempt obligations” of the Town under the provisions of Section 265(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
• (7) That the Treasurer and Chair of the Select Board are hereby authorized to execute and deliver any and all documents and certificates, and to take any and all actions, including affixing the seal of the Town, as may be necessary or convenient to carry out the full purpose and intent of the foregoing vote.

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LINKS TO LEARN MORE:

Preposed Bond Newsletter – (Town Grage & Shoreland)

Public Works Garage Project

Treasurer Statement

Special town meeting Warrant

2026 Special Municipal Election Absentee Ballot Application

​​Ongoing Absentee Ballot Status Application

Register to vote HERE online