South Portland Voters Reject $88.6 Million Public Safety Bond

South Portland voters defeated an $88.6 million borrowing package for new police and fire stations on November 3, with 63% of ballots cast in opposition, The Maine Wire reported.

The tally was 8,658 against and 5,002 in favor, a margin of roughly 3 to 2. The bond would have split nearly evenly between the two projects: $44.35 million for a police station at Cash Corner, on a site formerly occupied by a Walgreens, and $44.25 million for a fire station built on the land where the current station stands.

The city acquired the Cash Corner parcel for $2.5 million earlier in 2026, drawing on police asset forfeiture money and tax increment financing revenue that had already been set aside for municipal buildings.

City officials had argued the existing stations fall short of current public safety, accessibility and operational standards, and that renovating them would cost tens of millions to meet state building and energy codes while leaving core problems unresolved.

Critics said the price tag was too high for local property taxpayers. At an August 4 meeting, Councilor Natalie West said, "I believe this is too much of a burden to put on our taxpayers at one time."

The city has not said what it will do next with the two projects.

This story was first reported by The Maine Wire.