Kennebunk voters will decide on several proposed bonds, a contribution to public transportation services and funding for open space when they go to the polls Tuesday.

Voters will be asked whether they want to borrow up to $967,200 for a combination of public works projects, public safety vehicles and equipment, and voting machines. The largest amount – $498,000 – would be for paving and other road improvements. The next largest – $250,000 – would pay for 50 self-contained breathing devices for the fire/rescue department. Other spending would go to an ambulance, a salt storage structure, a police communications system and the police station heating/air conditioning system.

The total estimated debt service is $1.2 million, assuming interest of 4.5 percent.

Funds from the Route 1 tax increment financing district would cover the payments for three other bond proposals, which means they would not have an impact on the property tax rate. The TIF district, which covers downtown and Route 1 North, was created to fund economic development projects.

One bond proposal calls for borrowing $650,000 for drainage improvements downtown, another seeks $2.1 million for improvements around Main Street and the last for $400,000 would fund a sewer line extension along Route 1 south.

Total debt service is expected to be $1 million for the drainage proposal, $3.3 million for the downtown improvements and $622,066 for the sewer extension. Bonds for the three projects would have a life of 25 years and assumed interest of 4.5 percent.

Voters will also decide whether the town should provide $16,000 for the Kennebunk Shuttle and Shoreline Trolley, services run by York County Community Action.

Another ballot questions asks whether voters want to raise $50,000 for the town's open space account. There are no specific plans for the money currently, according to Wayne Berry, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Rather, the funds would serve as seed money if a desirable property becomes available, he said.

Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:

akim@pressherald.com