Charlotte voters approved all three bond referendums totaling $425 million for transportation, affordable housing and neighborhood improvements in the Nov. 3 election.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections showed all 169 precincts reporting for each city bond question in Mecklenburg County’s 11:39 p.m. Nov. 3 upload, checked Nov. 4:

  • Transportation, $280 million: 204,868 votes for (63.69%) and 116,785 against (36.31%).
  • Housing, $125 million: 199,281 for (61.94%) and 122,477 against (38.06%).
  • Neighborhood improvements, $20 million: 214,184 for (66.55%) and 107,632 against (33.45%).

The measures were separate votes limited to Charlotte voters; not every Ballantyne-area address lies inside city limits. All totals remain unofficial pending verification and certification.

The Charlotte City Council introduced the three bond orders at its June 22 meeting, according to the city's bond overview page. The city does not project a property tax increase to pay for the bonds. Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington wrote in an Oct. 29 opinion column that the city has incorporated the bonds into its budget and debt repayment projections and intends to pay using existing revenue.

North Carolina law requires ballot language referencing property taxes and the city's authority to levy them on all general obligation bond questions, Harrington wrote.

Transportation bond: $280 million

The largest of the three questions authorizes $280 million in general obligation bonds for street and mobility projects. Planned spending includes $100 million for large mobility projects under the city's "Big Moves 2030" program, $60 million for strategic investment areas, $50 million for sidewalk improvements, $24 million for street resurfacing and $22 million for pedestrian safety, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Smaller allocations cover $10 million for bike facilities, $5 million for bridge repair and replacement, $4 million for intelligent transportation systems such as traffic cameras, $3 million for traffic control devices and $2 million for orphan roads that lack a clear maintenance owner.

The city's planned projects page splits the $280 million into $160 million for place-based projects in targeted areas and $120 million for system-wide programs.

Affordable housing bond: $125 million

The housing bond will fund the city's Housing Trust Fund, which supports home repairs, down payment assistance and construction of new affordable housing, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Warren Wooten, deputy director of Charlotte Housing and Neighborhood Services, told the Charlotte Observer the trust fund "provides much-needed below market rate housing to the people, the families and the men and women that really power our community and power our economy in Charlotte."

On Oct. 12, City Council approved updated allocation goals for the $125 million, according to the city. The largest categories are $38 million for rental housing production, $31 million for homeownership and $18 million for rental preservation. The plan also sets aside at least $25 million for anti-displacement projects along transit corridors and at least $35 million for affordable housing in high-opportunity areas.

Neighborhood improvement bond: $20 million

The smallest bond authorizes $20 million for infrastructure in established and fast-growing neighborhoods. The city describes the funds as supporting public-private partnerships to leverage private investment for road improvements, pedestrian connections and other public infrastructure near future development sites.

North Carolina voters approved all three constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, covering voter photo identification, the state income-tax ceiling and limits on local property-tax levies.

Unofficial statewide results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, checked Nov. 4, showed all 2,626 precincts reporting. The totals remain subject to verification and certification.

Photo ID for all voting

The photo-ID amendment passed with 2,463,276 votes for it (59.60%) and 1,669,764 against (40.40%). It extends the constitutional photo-identification requirement beyond in-person voting to all voting, including absentee mail ballots.

Income-tax ceiling of 3.5%

The income-tax amendment passed with 2,559,732 votes for it (61.92%) and 1,574,188 against (38.08%). It lowers the constitutional maximum rate from 7% to 3.5%. The ceiling limits future legislative decisions; it is distinct from the enacted tax rate residents pay.

Local property-tax levy limits

The property-tax amendment passed with 2,492,761 votes for it (60.42%) and 1,632,700 against (39.58%). It directs the General Assembly to enact laws limiting increases in property-tax levies. The amendment does not specify a numerical limit or guarantee a lower individual tax bill; lawmakers must establish the framework and any exceptions.

The measures’ scope and pre-election debate were explained by WUNC. The property-tax language appears in the enacted amendment legislation.

What it means for Mecklenburg

Property-tax policy affects how Mecklenburg County and Charlotte fund services. These statewide tallies decide the constitutional questions; a county’s results alone do not determine passage. The vote figures above replace this article’s pre-election polling and pending-results language.