City of Charlotte Neighborhood Improvement Bonds ReferendumBorrow up to $20 million for neighborhood improvements like streets, sidewalks and drainage
What your vote means
The City of Charlotte may borrow up to $20 million for neighborhood improvements like streets, sidewalks and drainage, and may raise property taxes to pay it back with interest.
The City of Charlotte may not borrow this money with these bonds.
Our one-line summary of the official wording.
In plain words
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
- A bond is a loan. Voters are asked whether the City of Charlotte may borrow up to $20 million, plus interest, for neighborhood improvements like streets, sidewalks and drainage. source: ncsbe.gov (State Board of Elections)
- The official wording says property taxes in the City of Charlotte may go up to pay the loan back. source: ncsbe.gov (State Board of Elections)
- The city lists the full $20 million for one program, "Promote Public-Private Partnerships," which pays for public infrastructure near future private development sites. No individual projects are named. source: charlottenc.gov
Cost: Up to $20 million borrowed, repaid with interest from property taxes in the City of Charlotte. Official estimate of the total cost with interest, using the highest interest rate of the last 20 years: $31,222,400. Official estimate of the property tax increase: $0.00 a year for each $100,000 of property value.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
- Charlotte City Council introduced the bond orders on June 22, 2026. The three bonds total $425 million, the city's largest bond package. source: charlottenc.gov
- City officials say repaying the bonds is already built into the budget and is not expected to raise tax rates; the ballot wording still allows property taxes to repay them. source: wbtv.com
Why supporters want it
No public statement found.
Why opponents object
No public statement found.
Who backs each side
- Vote Yes for Bonds campaign (pro-bond): the campaign website for the 2026 city bonds says it is "Paid for by the Coalition for a Better 2050." source: voteyesforbonds.com
- In Charlotte's 2022 city bond campaign, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance managed the Vote Yes effort and the Coalition for a Better 2050 funded it. source: charlotteregion.com
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
Word for word from the State Board of Elections' official list of local referendums for Nov 3, 2026: ncsbe.gov (State Board of Elections) .
Additional property taxes may be levied on property located in the City of Charlotte in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on bonds if approved by the following ballot question. Shall the order authorizing $20,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of infrastructure improvements for various neighborhoods of the City, including the cost of related studies, plans and design, acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, installing or providing curbs, gutters, storm drainage, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and relocation of utilities; paving, milling, resurfacing, grading or improving streets, roads and intersections, providing public open space, landscaping, lighting and traffic controls, signals and markers, and acquiring any necessary equipment, land, interests in land and rights-of-way therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved, in light of the following: (1) The estimated cumulative cost over the life of the bond, using the highest interest rate charged for similar debt over the last 20 years, would be $31,222,400 (consisting of $20,000,000 principal amount of bonds plus $11,222,400 of interest). (2) The estimated amount of property tax liability increase for each one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of property tax value to service the cumulative cost over the life of the bond provided above would be $0.00 per year.
- Yes
- No
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
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