Buncombe County voters approve $70M in bond proposals for affordable housing, open space
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Buncombe County voters decided on two bond proposals Tuesday night, Nov. 8.
The approved measures will go towards affordable housing and open space.
Back in June, commissioners approved the special referendum: $40 million for affordable housing and $30 million for open space.
Both passed with more than 60% of the vote Tuesday night; the housing bonds referendum passed with 62% of the vote, and the open space bonds referendum passed with 69% of the vote.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OPEN SPACE BONDS GET AN OVERWHELMING OK FROM BUNCOMBE VOTERS
The affordable housing bond will help increase housing units available for low- to moderate-income residents in Buncombe County, while the open space bond will support conservation projects and the expansion of greenways.
“These programs are going to be very challenging to implement, and it’ll require a little patience and perseverance, but we’ve passed a key step here for sure,” said Marc Hunt, campaign director of Better with Bonds.
Hunt said that passing this is just the start.
'PIVOTAL TIME IN OUR GROWTH:' AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OPEN SPACE BONDS UP FOR VOTE IN BUNCOMBE
“There are a few steps before we see this money activated,” he added. “There’s got to be some formal approvals at the state level. There’s got to be activity to raise the money through the bond issue, so I mean, we’re a few months away from money coming online. That doesn’t mean we can’t start cuing up really good initiatives and projects that the money will be used for.”
According to Buncombe County, a $30 million bond will cost typical households a maximum of $14 a year for 20 years; the $40 million will cost households about $18 per year for 20 years.
Buncombe County plans to now move forward with its community oversight committee for the bonds.
