CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte voters said yes Tuesday to all three city bond questions on the ballot, clearing the way for $425 million in borrowing for roads, housing and neighborhood work, unofficial returns show.
The package was winning roughly two of every three votes as of 10:30 p.m., with 140 of 169 precincts counted.
The biggest piece, $280 million, goes to transportation. Of that, major mobility projects would get $100 million, sidewalk building $50 million and street resurfacing $24 million.
Another $125 million is set aside for affordable housing through the city’s housing trust fund, which pays for home repairs, down payment help and construction of new affordable units. A smaller $20 million slice would pay for neighborhood projects, among them greenways, bike lanes and more sidewalks.
Rob Harrington, the 60th Mayor of Charlotte, told voters before the election that the city would not raise property taxes to pay back the money. Harrington was appointed by the City Council in June to finish the term left open by the resignation of Mayor Vi Lyles. Over the life of the program, the borrowing is expected to cost $242 million in interest.
Bond votes did not go as well elsewhere in the region. Cabarrus County voters narrowly said no to $340 million for schools and $60 million for a community college project, with about 51% opposed to each. In Kannapolis, voters rejected a $40 million parks bond with about 56% voting no, and Union County voters defeated a $200 million jail bond with about 64% voting no. All of those measures would have raised property taxes.
Section: More Charlotte NC politics news
Filed under: Charlotte NC Politics News
