Durham County commissioners have stepped up with a $170 million bond request that voters will be asked to approve this fall. It is a timely and wise decision.

Four referendums will be on the November ballot.

One will give schools $90.9 million for buildings, including remodeling and reconstruction. More than half of the money, nearly $52 million, would go for a new Northern High. This is a painfully obvious need, as the school was built in the 1950s and has long been in need of serious attention.

Durham Tech would get roughly $20 million for improvements, another serious need at a time when the state’s community colleges are more important than ever. Starting in community colleges helps some students save money given the ever-increasing expense of the state’s four-year public universities.

And the Durham Public Library would get $44.7 million for improvements. Again, these are needed to speak to needs for high-tech services for patrons.

The bond issue also would benefit Durham’s Museum of Life and Science.

Commissioners are being bold here, and rightfully so.