Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach Eye $7.4 Million Radio System Upgrade After Public Safety Concerns

Two southern Maine coastal communities are moving toward a joint ballot question this November that would fund a long-overdue overhaul of their shared emergency radio communications system, a network public safety officials describe as increasingly unreliable and built on decades-old technology.

The Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach town councils have each given first-reading approval to orders placing the upgrade proposal before voters. The total cost, if both towns proceed without additional outside money, is estimated at nearly $12.4 million — $9.2 million for Scarborough and $3.2 million for Old Orchard Beach. But if the communities secure a $5 million federal grant they are actively pursuing, the combined cost to taxpayers would drop to roughly $7.4 million, with Scarborough paying about $5.6 million and Old Orchard Beach about $1.8 million.

The push for a new system stems from a system that firefighters and police officers say is failing them at critical moments. The current infrastructure relies on VHF (very high frequency) technology, a standard that dates to the 1950s, and on physical infrastructure installed in the 1990s. Replacement parts have become scarce, and service vendors are increasingly hard to find. Joe Thornton, Scarborough's emergency communications manager, said the situation has reached a tipping point.

"It's becoming increasingly difficult, and in some cases impossible, for us to source replacement parts and even hire vendors to do service on our equipment," Thornton said.

The problems extend beyond aging hardware. VHF signals do not penetrate modern building materials well, creating dead zones inside metal structures and large box-style commercial buildings. Northern Scarborough has coverage gaps that can prevent first responders from reaching the communications center, a serious concern in a region where emergency personnel often operate in remote or wooded terrain. There are also no additional channels available for expansion. In some emergencies, dispatchers and officers have resorted to using personal cellphones to relay information.

The towns are exploring several avenues to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers. Both Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach have applied for grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and regional organizations, though those funds generally require a demonstrated local commitment. Both communities have also reached out to Maine's U.S. senators, Susan Collins and Angus King, seeking congressionally directed spending. King's office has already advanced a $5 million request to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Liam Gallagher, Scarborough's assistant town manager, acknowledged the plan carries some risk. The referendum language reflects the towns' optimistic but cautious stance. If approved, voters would authorize bonding for the project in anticipation of receiving outside funding.

"Our approach at this point is to move forward with the hope that we will receive and be awarded some congressional funding," Gallagher said. "We want to be very upfront that there is a risk to this approach."

Under the proposal, Scarborough's ballot question would authorize the issuance of up to $6 million in bonds. If federal dollars do not materialize, town leaders said they would either need to identify other funding sources or return to voters for additional approval. Old Orchard Beach's ballot question asks for $3.3 million, an amount that would cover the town's full share of the project even without outside grants.

Public hearings on the question are scheduled in the coming weeks. The Scarborough Town Council is set to hold a public hearing and second reading on the referendum order on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. Old Orchard Beach is expected to schedule a similar session.

If voters in both communities approve the upgrade and the federal grant comes through, the new system could be operational by late 2028, with an expected service life of 15 to 20 years. Leaders in both towns have framed the investment as essential infrastructure for a region whose year-round population swells dramatically during the summer tourist season and whose first responders cover a wide swath of coastline, marshland and inland neighborhoods.

For now, the path forward runs through the ballot box and, town officials hope, through Washington.