Chapel Hill voters said yes to five bond projects totaling $44M (CSN, Oct 2023). Leading the way was open space/greenways (80.8 percent approval), recreation projects (78.46 percent), housing (72.8 percent), streets/ sidewalks (78.4 percent), public buildings (71.51 percent), according to unofficial returns.
Chapel Hill spent $11,000 mailing bond info postcards to city homeowners. They arrived after early voting began.
In Durham. voters approved $85M in bonds for parks and rec facilities, mainly swim projects in East Durham (72.6 percent), $115M streets (75.3 percent).
Wake County approved $142M in library bonds (56.3 percent).
But Cary was the exception, voting against $560M for six new park and recreation facilities like senior and community centers (55 percent no) that would have added 9 cents to the annual city tax rate. Measure failed by about 9,000 votes. Housing bonds ($30M) also were defeated (52.5 percent no). Both projects will be shelved, city officials announced.
Orange County voters backed $300M in bonds for school buildings (67.9 percent approval).
J.B.