The Falmouth Public Works building, built in 1969, is in need of upgrades. (Sophie Burchell/Staff Writer)

Falmouth residents backed borrowing $13.7 million to renovate the town’s public works building at the polls on Tuesday.

The town charter requires voter approval for items over $2 million. Voters approved the project, 3,681 votes to 2,352, according to unofficial election results.

To fund the project, the estimated property tax increase for a home valued at $850,000 is approximately $161.50 annually. There will be smaller tax increases spread out over three years, culminating in the expected $161.50 increase.

The public works building, built in 1969, is an aging facility, lacks storage and has tight quarters for staff. The renovation will include larger bays for the truck fleets, electrical and plumbing updates, a workshop and bunks for plow drivers, who sleep in shifts during snowstorms.

The project was part of an extended public information campaign offered this summer by town staff through which the public could tour the public works building and two fire stations that the town says also are in need of significant upgrades. The Town Council ultimately approved the public works project for the ballot and the fire station projects were indefinitely postponed.

Sophie is a community reporter for Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth and Falmouth and previously reported for the Forecaster. Her memories of briefly living on Mount Desert Island as a child drew her…
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