City of Charlotte Transportation Bonds ReferendumBorrow up to $280 million for streets, sidewalks and other transportation projects
What your vote means
The City of Charlotte may borrow up to $280 million for streets, sidewalks and other transportation projects, 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 $280 million, plus interest, for streets, sidewalks and other transportation projects. 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)
- Citywide amounts include $50 million for sidewalks, $24 million for repaving, $22 million for Vision Zero pedestrian safety and $10 million for bike connections. Estimated total repayment with interest: about $437 million. source: wbtv.com
- The city lists $100 million for Big Moves 2030 projects, including Bryant Farms Road Extension Phase Two ($35 million), Robinson Church Road widening ($19.3 million), Shamrock Drive complete street ($14.5 million), Eastway Drive/Shamrock Drive intersection ($12 million), Ashley Road/Freedom Drive/Tuckaseegee Road intersection ($6.7 million), Brown-Grier Road complete street ($6.6 million) and DeArmon Road complete street ($6 million). Another $60 million goes to Strategic Investment Areas. source: charlottenc.gov
Cost: Up to $280 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: $437,113,600. 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 $280,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, extending and improving certain streets, including streets and roads constituting a part of the State highway system or otherwise the responsibility of the State and including the cost of related studies, streetscape and pedestrian improvements, relocation of utilities, plans and design; acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, widening, extending, paving, milling, resurfacing, grading or improving streets, roads, intersections, parking lots and pedestrian and bicycle paths; acquiring, constructing, reconstructing or improving sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, bridges, overpasses, underpasses and grade crossings and providing related landscaping, lighting and traffic controls, signals and markers; and the acquisition of interests in land and rights-of-way required 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 $437,113,600 (consisting of $280,000,000 principal amount of bonds plus $157,113,600 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
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