Voters approve three Wake County bonds for parks and schools
The three bonds on the ballot in Wake County were approved by voters on Tuesday, making way for improvements to schools, parks, and the expansion of Wake Technical Community College.
On the ballot Tuesday was the Raleigh Parks Bond Referendum, Wake County Public School Bond, and the Wake Tech Workforce Forward Bond.
Here are the unofficial results with all precincts reporting late on Tuesday night.
Raleigh Parks Bond Referendum
The $275 million bond was the largest-ever parks and greenway bond for the Raleigh community. If residents vote for the bond, parks would be built, planned and fixed across the city. The bond would also raise city property taxes, costing the average homeowner about $100 more a year.
The bond was approved with 117,098 votes.
“Parks and greenways were our salvation during COVID. We have a new appreciation for how much green spaces and trails add to our mental and physical health. It’s important to our city’s future that we provide amenities for all residents in all parts of our community,” Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin said.
Wake County Public School Bond
The $530.7 million bond was approved with 303,989 votes.
The bond would contribute to the 2024-2025 Wake County Public School System needs, including the funds for five new schools and the renovations for seven of them.
Five new schools:
- Pleasant Plains Elementary in Apex
- Bowling Road Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina
- Wendell Elementary School in Wendell
- Parkside Middle School in Morrisville
- An unnamed high school in Morrisville
Seven schools getting renovations:
- Lockhart Elementary School in Knightdale
- Brentwood Elementary School in Raleigh
- Washington Elementary School in Raleigh
- Ligon Middle School in Raleigh
- Athens Drive High School in Raleigh
- Briarcliff Elementary School in Cary
Wake Tech Workforce Forward Bond
The $353.2 million bond was approved with 297,126, or 69%, votes.
The 2022 Wake Tech bond would pay for the college’s growth and expansion for students and the community.
Chris Sinclair, a spokesperson for Sinclair Public Affairs, a communications firm, in Raleigh said city leaders and local committee members were “tickled pink” that the bonds were successful at the ballot box.
A watch party for the bonds was held in Raleigh on Tuesday by city leaders and local groups, Citizens Supporting Raleigh, the Friends of Wake County, Wake Tech Workforce Forward, and some state political action committees.
“Those are some of the highest percentages I’ve seen for bonds,” Sinclair said. “(The results) are a really strong statement from the community that they want to repair schools that need repairing, make sure schools are safe, make sure we have better greenways, and continue to invest in Wake Tech.”
Sinclair credited several city and local leaders for getting the word out about the bonds and rallying support for them.
“When you put a billion dollars on the ballot you get nervous, but we over-performed in our polling,” he said. “The city’s been doing a lot in addressing the needs for citizens including investing in affordable housing. ... But also making investments in our infrastructure like the parks. That’s something that the mayor put out there. It was really significant.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 8:30 PM.