Supporters of Question 6 say while Maine voters have historically been generous in their approval of tranpsportation bonds, they're not taking next week's vote for granted. The state of the economy, they acknowledge, may make voters think twice about adding to the government's debt. And some might question why the state can't simply pay for capital improvements out of the revenue it brings in from taxes.

"I know of few places, if any, that can rely upon their income to make those investments and to capture the federal match that's available out there without using bond issues," says Dana Connors, the former commissioner of transportation who now heads the state Chamber of Commerce.

Connors says the $71.25 million would bring in an additional $148 million in federal and other matching funds. In addition, says Connors, it would create about 4,600 jobs.

"And that doesn't mention the fact that these projects generate revenue that gets rolled over two or three times in our economy by suppliers or other people," he says. "It does something for the economy, it's a very positive ingredient in our economy. It's like a stimulus package that's intended to meet the very essence of our problem at this time."

And, say supporters, it comes at a time when the state's transportation system is in need of repair. Erik Wiberg is past-president of the Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, which last year issued a report card on the status of Maine's infrastructure. "And the grades ranged from a B- for airports down to a D for roads and D+ for bridges. There's definitely a need to invest in and maintain our infrastructure."

Connors says most of the $71.25 million -- about $55 million -- would go to highway and bridge improvements. "And of that $55 million, it addresses 125 bridges, 228 miles of capital paving, and 34 highway construction type projects."

The rest of the funds would go rail projects, ferries, ports, channel dredging, airports and equipment updates for the rescue helicopter service, LifeFlight of Maine. Over 10 years, the bond would cost the state nearly $20 million in interest.

"Someone has got to stand up and say 'enough is enough,'" says state Rep. Doug Thomas of Ripley, a Republican member of the Legislature's Transportation Commitee. Thomas says the Maine DOT already has millions of dollars in funding from other bonding sources, from taxes and fees, and from $130 million in federal stimulus money.

"The DOT has more money than they've ever had and our roads are in worse shape than ever," Thomas says. "They're mismanaging our money. I've compared many, many times the DOT to a bucket with holes in it, and we need to fix the holes before we put any more water in that bucket."

Thomas has been openly critical of what he says has been DOT's failure to control expenses, and of the Legislature's practice of using too much money from the highway fund to cover general fund expenses. Thomas says that altogether, misdirected transportation revenue alone could pave more than 500 miles of highway in Maine every year.