According to current projections by OCS, CHCCS and Orange County, the bond is projected to cost a property taxpayer roughly $34 for every $100,000 of assessed property value through an increase in taxes for Orange County taxpayers.
Jenks said if the bond does not pass, both districts can still use their operating budgets to perform day-to-day maintenance items and repairs, but it would not be enough funding to rebuild or construct new schools.
“Even if you don’t have school-age kids, we think the bond impacts the entire county, because good schools improve property values, attract businesses and create a stronger community for everyone,” he said. “So we’re working on spreading the word that this matters to everyone, not just parents of kids who are in school.”
The referendum will be the last item on the second page of ballots in Orange County.
Town of Chapel Hill
On May 15, the Chapel Hill Town Council adopted a resolution stating their intent to proceed with five referendums on affordable housing, public facilities, streets and sidewalks, parks and recreation facilities and open space and greenways for a total of a $44 million bond.
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson said the bond orders were made to align with the Town’s Complete Communities Strategy, meant to promote sustainability and inclusion within Chapel Hill.
The affordable housing and public facilities bond would both be allocated $15 million, she said.
According to the Town website, the affordable housing bond would be used to construct new affordable housing, preserve existing affordable housing and/or acquire property to be used for affordable housing. Meanwhile, the public facilities bond would be used to replace the town’s ailing fire stations, Anderson said.
The other three bonds include a $7.5 million streets and sidewalks bond to improve sidewalk connectivity, a $4.5 million parks and recreation facilities bond to expand and improve existing facilities with community input and a $2 million open space and greenways bond to construct the Bolin Creek Greenway extension from Umstead Park to Estes Drive Extension.
“Not only our housing, but our greenway initiatives are all about affordability,” Anderson said. “So making sure that people who work here can live here, that the people who make our community run can be here and not have to commute.”
The Chapel Hill bonds will have no impact on current taxes, she said.
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Anderson said these bonds go on the ballot as referendums as opposed other types of bonds because the Town wants to affirm that its priorities are going in the direction that people want to see, which is why it is important for people to vote on them.
“Educated voters — not just on candidates, but also on these big decisions that are being made for our communities — are really important as part of healthy communities,” she said.