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Cary, North Carolina, Parks and Recreation Bond Issue (October 2019)

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Local ballot measure elections in 2019
Cary Parks and Recreation Bond Issue
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The basics
Election date:
October 8, 2019
Status:
Approveda Approved
Topic:
City bonds
Related articles
City bonds on the ballot
October 8, 2019 ballot measures in North Carolina
Chatham County, North Carolina ballot measures
Other counties
See also
Cary, North Carolina

A bond issue was on the ballot for Cary voters in Chatham and Wake counties in North Carolina on October 8, 2019. It was approved.

A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the town to issue up to $112 million in bonds to fund expansion of existing parks and recreation facilities and authorizing the town to raise taxes to pay off the bonds.
A no vote was a vote against authorizing the town to issue up to $112 million in bonds to fund expansion of existing parks and recreation facilities and authorizing the town to raise taxes to pay off the bonds.

The town of Cary had two bond financing issues on the October 8, 2019 ballot. Cary proposed to borrow a total of $225 million between this measure and the Transportation Bond Issue over seven years.

At the time of the election, Cary's general fund debt service was approximately $17.2 million per year, which was 10 percent of the town's annual operating expenses. The town council did not provide an estimate of property tax rates based on the approval of the bond issue.[1]

Election results

Cary Parks and Recreation Bond Issue

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

12,658 76.48%
No 3,892 23.52%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:[2]

Shall the order adopted on July 18, 2019, authorizing $112,000,000 PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BONDS of the Town of Cary, North Carolina, plus interest, for the purpose of providing funds, together with any other available funds, for improving and expanding the existing park, greenway and recreational facilities of said Town and acquiring and constructing new park, greenway and recreational facilities of said Town, inside and outside its corporate limits, including, without limitation, the acquisition of open space land and other land for parks and recreational use, rights of way and equipment, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds, be approved?[3]

Shaping Cary's Tomorrow campaign logo

Support

Shaping Cary's Tomorrow led the support campaign for both bond issues on the ballot.[4]

Opposition

If you know of opponents or arguments that should be posted here, email editor@ballotpedia.org.

Background

Parks and recreation in Cary

The town of Cary had more than 30 public parks, seven special use facilities, four sports venues, and nine staffed facilities at the time of the election. The measure proposed to add three new parks, upgrade play equipment, preserve historic properties, and improve existing parks.[5]

Bond issue limit

In their annual budget discussion on May 9, 2019, the Cary Town Council decided that bond issues would not exceed a total of $225 million, $112 million for parks and $113 million for transportation. The most recent approved bond issues were in 2012 for $80 million and were used to fund fire, transportation, and park projects. The town reported that these projects are in progress or complete.[6]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in North Carolina

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Cary Town Council.[7]

  • May 23: Voted unanimously in favor of 2019 Bond Referendum Preliminary Findings Resolution
  • June 27: Set public hearing date to consider bond issues for July 18
  • July 18: Bond orders and resolution calling for a bond referendum were approved after a public hearing

See also

External links

Footnotes