Wake County School Bonds ReferendumBorrow up to $680 million for public school buildings
What your vote means
Wake County may borrow up to $680 million for public school buildings, and may raise property taxes to pay it back with interest.
Wake County 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 Wake County may borrow up to $680 million, plus interest, for public school buildings. source: ncsbe.gov (State Board of Elections)
- The official wording says property taxes in Wake County may go up to pay the loan back. source: ncsbe.gov (State Board of Elections)
- Paying for this bond and the Wake Tech bond is expected to raise the county property tax rate by about half a cent, about $22.50 more per year on a $450,000 home. source: aol.com
Cost: Up to $680 million borrowed, repaid with interest from property taxes in Wake County. Official estimate of the total cost with interest, using the highest interest rate of the last 20 years: $1,043,387,458. Official estimate of the property tax increase: $4.10 a year for each $100,000 of property value.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
- The Wake County school board voted unanimously to ask county commissioners to put a $680 million school building bond on the Nov. 3 ballot. The bond order was adopted July 6, 2026. source: aol.com
- The bond, plus about $152 million in county cash, pays for an $832 million school building plan for 2027-28 and 2028-29: three new elementary schools (Marshburn Road in Lizard Lick, Little Creek in Zebulon, Poole Road in Southeast Raleigh) and major renovations at Athens Drive High, Briarcliff Elementary, East Garner Middle, Ligon Middle, Cary High, Wendell Elementary, Washington Elementary and East Wake High. source: aol.com
- The rest goes to repairs and upgrades at existing schools, such as roofs, heating and cooling, fire alarms, security, mobile classrooms and accessibility. The district says about 77 schools would be affected. source: wcpss.net
Why supporters want it
- Wake Commissioners Chair Don Mial: "Both bonds will help Wake County move forward and continue to invest in our young people." source: wunc.org
- Mark Strickland, the school district's chief of facilities and operations: "We realized several years ago that we needed to intensify our efforts on our existing schools." source: aol.com
- Wake County Public School System: "Wake County is growing and so are the needs of our schools." source: wcpss.net
Why opponents object
No public statement found.
Who backs each side
No public record found of a campaign committee or campaign money for either side.
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 County of Wake, North Carolina in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on school bonds if approved by the following ballot question. Shall the order adopted on July 6, 2026, authorizing $680,000,000 SCHOOL BONDS of the County of Wake, North Carolina, plus interest, for the purpose of providing funds to construct, renovate, expand, improve and equip school buildings and other school facilities for the Wake County Public School System, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds be approved, in light of the following: (1) The estimated cumulative cost over the life of said bonds, using the highest interest rate charged for similar debt over the last 20 years, would be $1,043,387,458, consisting of the $680,000,000 principal amount of said bonds plus $363,387,458 of estimated 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 said bonds would be $4.10 per year.
- Yes
- No
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