📰BIDDEFORD | Bonds Passed, Now What?

-Mayor Elect LaFountain and City Staff React to Passing of Recreation & Sewer Bonds-

“I look forward to working with the City Council and city staff to ensure that the sewer bond proceeds are used responsibly and effectively.”

November 5, 2025, Yesterday, Biddeford voters approved all 3 local municipal bond questions proposed on the 2025 Ballot.

Following the election results, we reached out to Mayor Elect Liam LaFountain and City Staff, to share their thoughts regarding the outcome of the sewer and recreation bonds.

Question 1, which stated, “Shall the the Order of the Biddeford City Council entitled “Order Authorizing Issuance of $20,000,000 of the City’s General Obligation Bonds for Separating and Improving the City’s Storm and Sanitary Sewer Systems in accordance with the signed Administrative Consent Agreement with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection” be ratified and approved?", passed with 4,708 yes votes and 1,497 no votes. In addition, there were 396 blank votes, amounting to a total of 6,601 votes cast.

When asked about the passing of municipal question 1, Mayor Elect Liam LaFountain stated,  “I am grateful to the voters of Biddeford for turning out in strong numbers to weigh in on these important bond questions. Their engagement reflects how deeply residents care about the city’s future and its public infrastructure.”

Danica Lamontagne, Assistant to the City Manager, explained, “the approval of the sewer bond means that Jeff [Demers, Director of Public Works], Craig [Chekan, Director of City Engineering] and the rest of the team will be able to keep moving forward on the sewer separation projects that we are obligated to complete by the Maine DEP in the next ten years, keeping wastewater pollution out of our rivers and streams.”

LaFountain added, “I recognize that these investments come with real costs, and I want to thank Biddeford voters for their willingness to take a long-term view… I look forward to working with the City Council and city staff to ensure that the sewer bond proceeds are used responsibly and effectively.”

Municipal Bond Question 2 stated to voters, "Shall the the Order of the Biddeford City Council entitled “Order Authorizing Issuance of $6,000,000 of the City’s General Obligation Bonds for Improvements to the City’s Recreation Facilities” be ratified and approved?". This bond passed with 3,984 yes votes, 2,221 no votes, 396 blank votes, totaling 6,601 votes cast. 

With the passing of the recreation bond, city officials want to remind the community that they “will be asking for residents to weigh in on which eligible facilities the Council should prioritize when making funding decisions”. Staff went on to explain, “our next step will be to design the mechanism to gather feedback. 

Lafountain added, I also look forward to collaborating with Biddeford residents and the City Council to identify which recreation facilities and improvements should be prioritized with the funds approved through the Recreation Bond. These investments hold tremendous potential to enhance the city’s parks, athletic fields, and gathering spaces, improving the quality of life while strengthening Biddeford's environmental health and vitality for years to come.”

If you have any questions or wish to contact the Recreation Department, Public Works Department, or City Engineering, their contact information can be found on the City’s website at https://www.biddefordmaine.org/