South Portland Residents to Vote on $88.6 Million Bond for New Police and Fire Stations
South Portland residents are scheduled to vote in November on a referendum to approve an $88.6 million bond for the construction of new police and fire stations. If approved, the bond would allocate up to $44.35 million for a new police station on the vacant Walgreens parcel at Cash Corner, acquired by the city this year. An additional $44.25 million would be designated for a new central fire station, to be built on the site of the current central police and fire station. The city plans to issue the bonds in two phases, with the police station construction preceding the fire station. Both the existing police station, built in 1967, and the fire station, built in 1955, are aging and in disrepair, failing to meet current codes and suffering from significant mechanical, electrical, and plumbing issues. HVAC systems are past their lifespan, and critical areas like the evidence room and emergency operation center in the basement frequently flood. Police Chief Dan Ahern and Fire Chief Phil Selberg have both stat...
