MACHIAS, Maine — Voters in Washington County will decide this November whether to approve a bond of up to $11 million.

"After having been through the budget line by line and looking at every single alternative, the bond is really our only option," County Commissioner Ashely Hammond explained.

County commissioners and members of the budget advisory committee say its passing is critical to helping them dig the county out of a $3 million budget deficit and $8 million in Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) debt owed to Machias Savings Bank.

"We've spent that money, it needs to be paid back, and the bond gives us flexibility to do that," budget committee chair Brian Schuth added. "It gives us the chance to figure out how to fix the county's financial situation going forward."

According to Burns and

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