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2024 General Obligation Bond Referendum
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beverly Liles, Finance, Director, 704-283-3675
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Adopt Resolution Certifying Results of the 2024 Union County General Obligation Referendum that were approved by voters on November 5, 2024, and 2) adopt Capital Project Ordinance 378.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
1) June 17, 2024, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item #24-389 - Introduced Bond Order Authorizing the Issuance of $39,425,000 General Obligation School Bonds of the County of Union, North Carolina and Adopted Resolution of the County of Union, North Carolina regarding Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $39,425,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Setting Public Hearing for July 15, 2024, and Directing Publication of Notice of Said Public Hearing.
2) May 20, 2024, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 24-344 - Adopted the Resolution Directing Publication of Notice of Intent to Apply to the Local Government Commission and adopted the Resolution making certain statements of facts concerning the proposed school bond issue and authorizing the application to the LGC for $39,425,000 of general obligation bonds.
3) May 6, 2024, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 24-290 - Authorized staff to move forward with the necessary steps for a 2024 Bond Referendum for Union County Public School to fund design of a new high school to be known as Parkwood High School and the design and renovation of converting the current Forest Hills High School into a middle school to be known as East Union Middle School in the amount of $39,421,448.
4) July 15, 2024, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item #24-460 - 1) Adopted Bond Order Authorizing the Issuance of $39,425,000 General Obligation Schools Bonds of the County of Union, North Carolina and 2) adopted the Resolution Setting a Special Bond Referendum and Directing the Publication of Notice of a Special Bond Referendum and Notification of the Union County Board of Elections.
BACKGROUND:
On November 5, 2024, Union County voters approved the General Obligation Bonds (GO Bonds) Referendum for Union County Public Schools. The GO Bonds will provide funding for the design of a new high school to be known as Parkwood High School and the design and renovation of converting the current Forest Hills High School into a middle school to be known as East Union Middle School.
The Resolution Certifying results indicates the approval of $39,425,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of providing for the design of a new high school to be known as Parkwood High School and the design and renovation of converting the current Forest Hills High School into a middle school to be known as East Union Middle School.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The estimated cumulative cost over the life of the bond, using the highest interest rate of 5.344% charged for similar debt over the last twenty years is estimated at $61,541,611. The estimated maximum annual debt service impact is $4,077,755 beginning in FY2026 and commencing in FY2045. The annual estimated amount of property tax liability increases for each $100,000 of property tax value to service the cumulative cost over the life of the bond is estimated at $8.00 (based on 0.80¢ increase in the ad valorem property tax rate). This estimate is based on the legislative requirements of NC Session Law 2022-53 for bond referendums.