Greensboro residents were asked to vote on the bonds below during the November 7 election. The results of the voting are listed with each bond.

A bond is a long-term loan approved by voters in a referendum to finance major capital projects. The vote authorizes a city to increase property taxes, if necessary, to repay the debt. Major capital projects are usually projects that have a useful life of 10 years or more, cost more than $100,000 and are above and beyond the scope of the annual operating budget.

Bonds are typically repaid through property taxes. When bonds are issued, property taxes are increased, if necessary, to pay the debt and to support the higher cost of operations for new facilities. If all bonds had been approved, the total cost would have been $114,950,000, which would have required approximately 3 cents per $100 of valuation to repay the debt. 

Yes: 70.42%     No: 29.58% 

... will provide funds for constructing, equipping and furnishing additional fire stations, including the acquisition of firefighting apparatus, and land acquisition, if needed. For more information call 412-5712. 

These bonds will pay for:

• Five new fire stations:
• Willow Road
• Details~ Cost: $5.8 million in construction; $1.23 million in annual operating costs. Construction begins early 2007
• Reedy Fork Creek
• Details~ Cost: $4.4 million in construction; $1.23 million in annual operating costs. Construction begins in summer 2009
• Old Randleman Road
• Details ~ Cost: $4.7 million in construction; $1.23 million in annual operating costs. Construction begins in summer 2010
• South Elm-Eugene Street
• Details ~ Cost: $4.6 million in construction; $1.23 million in annual operating costs. Construction begins in summer 2007
• Near the intersection of the Urban Loop, I-40 and I-85
• Details ~ Cost: $5 million in construction; $1.23 millionin annual operating costs. Construction begins in summer 2007
• Funds will also be used to purchase land for future fire stations. 

Yes: 45.22%     No: 54.78%  

... will provide funds for renovating and improving City owned buildings, including constructing new roofs, installing new heating and cooling systems, and improving energy efficiency. For more information, call 373-2329. 

• Improvements include new roofs, heating and cooling systems, lighting systems, elevators, and fire alarm systems.
• Buildings will be equipped with new energy efficient technology that will lower operations costs. 

Yes: 52.51%     No: 48.49%  

... will provide funds to support job creation, industrial park development, infrastructure, such as water, sewer, and street improvements, and land acquisition, if needed, for economic development projects. For more information, call 373-2002. 

These bonds will pay for:

• Development of land for industrial sites and/or a corporate park through:
• Installation of water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure.
• Land acquisition, if needed.  
• Support of reinvestment areas and corridors through:
• Installation of water, sewer, storm sewer, and transportation infrastructure.
• Provision of off-street parking and streetscape improvements.
• Environmental site assessments.
• Site preparation.
• All projects under consideration for these funds will be reviewed by City Council. There is no set schedule for spending.

Yes: 63.55%     No: 36.45% 

... will provide funds for constructing, equipping and furnishing new branch libraries and expanding an existing branch library, including land acquisition, if needed. For more information, call 373-2699. 

These bonds will pay for:

• Expansion of the Benjamin Branch Library.
• Details ~ An extra 1,500 suqare feet of space. Cost: $1.1 million in construction; an additional $2,680 in annual operating costs. Construction begins in early 2007.
• A 10,000 square foot library will be constructed to replace the McGirt-Horton Branch Library.
• Details ~ Cost: $3.7 million in construction; $27,000 in additonal annual operating costs. Construction begins in early 2007.
• A 15,000 square foot library will be constructed to replace the Northeast Branch Library, closed in 2002, on Lake Jeannette Road adjacent to Fire Station #3. 
• Details ~ Cost $3.8 million in construction; $580,040 in additional annaul operating costs. Construction begins in summer 2008.

Yes: 50.13%     No: 49.87%  

... will provide funds for renovating the Greensboro Historical Museum in order to provide additional exhibit space, including equipment and furnishings. For more information, call 373-2043. 

These bonds will pay for:

• Renovation of the Greensboro Historical Museum to provide 10,000 square feet of new space for exhibits. 
• New technologies, equipment and furnishings, which will provide hands-on learning stations, videos of historic events, and touch-screen computer kiosks.
• Enhanced family-centered public programs.
• Needed repairs to preserve this historic structure. 
• Details ~ Construction begins in summer 2007.

Yes: 47.10%     No: 52.90% 

... will provide funds for renovating the Greensboro War Memorial Auditorium, including the lobby, seating areas, balconies, restrooms, lighting and acoustics, as well as improving handicapped access. For more information, call 373-7456.

These bonds would have paid for:

• Remodeling of the Auditorium, with improved lighting, acoustics, seating, and sightlines, a new grand lobby and improvements in patron amenities.
• Improved handicapped access, with ADA seating options and handicapped restrooms on all levels, as well as a new infrared hearing impaired system.
• Additional restrooms on all levels of the Auditorium. The number of women’s restrooms will increase from 17 to 43, while the number of men’s restrooms will increase from 22 to 32.
• Increased seating. 

Yes: 61.64%     No: 38.36%  

...will provide funds for neighborhood parks and recreational facilities in Greensboro, including land acquisition, expansion of the trail system, and park enhancements. For more information, call 433-7360. 

These bonds will pay for:

• Development of neighborhood parks on Lee Street and in the Brightwood area.
• Development of a 30+ acre park to surround the planned Southwest Recreation Center.
• The purchase of land for future parks.
• Additional showers and restrooms at the Greensboro Sportsplex and remodeled locker rooms.
• A parking area and furnishings for the David Caldwell Historic Park historic center.
• Expansion of Greensboro’s trail system.
• Construction of a skateboard park. 
• Details ~ Land acquisition and other small projects are to be finished in January 2008. Trail system expansion and other large projects are to be finished in December 2009.

Yes: 48.33%     No: 51.67%  

...will provide funds for acquiring and improving land, primarily in the Ole Asheboro neighborhood, to further the City’s urban redevelopment program. For more information, call 373-2751. 

These bonds would have paid for:

• Completion of redevelopment activities, begun in 1979 in the Ole Asheboro neighborhood. 
• Redevelopment activities, including elimination of blighted properties, development of affordable housing, and rehabilitation and repair of existing homes. 

Yes: 37.51%     No: 62.49% 

... will provide funds for renovating the Greensboro War Memorial Baseball Stadium, including locker rooms and restrooms. For more information, call 433-7360.

These bonds would have paid for:

• Renovation of War Memorial Baseball Stadium, including the retention of 2,500 seats, an indoor batting area, public spaces for community activities, improved home/visiting team locker rooms, the addition of a catering kitchen, additional public restrooms, and museum space.   

 

Yes: 40.56%     No: 59.44% 

...will provide funds for constructing and equipping a facility for competitive, educational, and therapeutic swimming events, including land acquisition, if needed. For more information, call 373-7456.

These bonds would have paid for:

• Construction of a 50-meter pool for competitive, educational, and therapeutic swimming events. The facility would have included a diving well, warm-up/cool-down pool, and seating for 1,500.

Yes: 45.81%     No: 54.19% 

... will provide funds to complete the restoration of the national landmark site of the 1960 lunch counter sit-ins. Bond money will only be issued if the museum raises an additional $5 million in matching funds from external sources. For more information, call 274-9199.

These bonds would have paid for:

• Accelerated construction of the International Civil Rights Museum & Center national historic preservation project.
• Fabrication of  high-tech interactive exhibits.