PORTLAND – The way Maine funds school construction projects could soon change under a new proposal aimed at tackling the state’s growing infrastructure crisis.

Representative Michelle Boyer (D-Cape Elizabeth) is leading the effort with a bill she says is essential for modernizing Maine’s aging school facilities. Many of the state’s schools were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and officials say they are increasingly failing to meet basic health, safety, and educational standards.

A recent interim report by the state commission studying the issue estimated it will take $11 billion over the next 20 years to repair or replace hundreds of outdated schools across Maine.

“This is not a problem we can continue to push down the road,” Boyer said in an interview. “Communities are being forced to choose between raising property taxes or sending students into crumbling buildings. That’s not sustainable.”

Currently, the state funds 100% of only a few new school construction projects every several years—a process that leaves many districts waiting in line for desperately needed improvements. Boyer’s bill proposes a more equitable funding model: under the measure, the state would contribute either more than 25% of a project’s cost or match the operational funding it provides to the district, whichever is greater.

Supporters say the change would allow more districts to move forward with critical repairs, renovations, and new construction by spreading funding across more projects, rather than concentrating resources on a select few.

“What has happened in Cape Elizabeth is we have had two failed bond referendums,” Boyer explained. “We have a third coming up next month and often, it comes down to property taxes. We are trying to fund a school wholly on our own.”

Local leaders say rising construction costs and inflation have made it nearly impossible for smaller towns to fund projects without state help. The current funding formula, they argue, leaves communities like Cape Elizabeth at a disadvantage.

No one spoke in opposition to the bill during Tuesday’s hearing, though lawmakers acknowledged that broader budget implications will need to be addressed as the legislation moves forward. The bill is one of several proposals lawmakers are considering this session to address the state’s school construction backlog.

The interim report released last month underscores the scale of the challenge, warning that the price tag will only grow if repairs continue to be delayed. Education advocates say the lack of functional school facilities is affecting student learning, teacher retention, and community safety.

“There’s a direct link between the condition of a school and educational outcomes,” said Amy Rosen, a Maine education policy analyst. “If we want to prepare our kids for the future, we need to invest in the places where they’re learning.”

The next hearing on Boyer’s proposal is expected later this month, as lawmakers work to finalize recommendations before the session ends.

Originally reported by Dan Lampariello in WGME.