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2026 Union County Jail Bond Referendum
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beverly Liles, Finance, Director, 704-283-3675
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Adopt Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Union, North Carolina directing the Publication of Notice of Intention to apply to the Local Government Commission for approval of $200,000,000 General Obligation Jail Bonds and 2) Adopt resolution making Certain statements of facts concerning the proposed jail bond issue and authorizing the application to the Local Government Commission for $200,000,000 of general obligation jail bonds.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
April 20, 2026, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item 26-212 - The Board authorized staff to move forward with the necessary steps for a 2026 Bond Referendum to fund a new jail facility in the amount of $200,000,000.
BACKGROUND:
General Obligations Bonds (GO) are widely considered the lowest-interest, most cost-effective financing mechanism for long-term capital projects in North Carolina due to the pledge of the local government's full faith, credit, and taxing power. For North Carolina counties, which are legally required to provide secure, safe, and sanitary inmate housing, financing a jail through a GO bond ensures that the borrowing costs are minimized for the taxpayers, as these bonds typically secure better credit ratings than other debt options. The GO bond process is more rigorous than other financing options (requiring a public vote), however the interest savings from a GO bond make it the preferred tool for construction of a new jail.
The Resolution directing publication of notice of intent to apply to the Local Government Commission (LGC) authorizes the Clerk to the Board to publish in the Enquirer Journal the Notice of Intention to Apply to the LGC for approval of Union County Jail Bonds to be placed on the November 2026 election ballot.
The Resolution making certain statements of facts concerning the proposed jail bond issue and authorizing ...
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