Cabarrus County voters will decide this November whether to approve General Obligation (GO) Bonds that could provide up to $400 million toward capital needs identified by Cabarrus County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools, and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

With early voting beginning next month, county officials are hosting a series of public information sessions to help residents understand what’s being proposed and what it could mean for their property taxes before they vote.

What is a GO Bond?

A General Obligation (GO) Bond is a financing tool that allows a county to borrow money for major capital projects, with voter approval required before the county can move forward. If approved, the county repays the borrowed funds over time through property taxes.

Unlike other forms of local government financing, GO bonds require direct voter authorization, meaning this November’s ballot gives Cabarrus County residents a direct say over whether these projects move forward.

Why Is This GO Bond Being Considered?

Cabarrus County’s public school systems have identified more than $1 billion in capital needs over the next decade. These needs include new school construction and essential facility upgrades such as:

  • Roof and HVAC replacements
  • Plumbing upgrades
  • Security enhancements

The proposed GO Bonds would provide up to $400 million to address that backlog, a substantial down payment on the identified needs, though not the full amount required.

What’s on the Ballot

Voters will see two separate ballot questions covering different institutions. Because these are separate questions, voters can approve, reject, or split their support between the two; each measure will be decided independently.

  1. Question 1:
    “Additional property taxes may be levied on property located in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on bonds if approved by the following ballot question. Shall the order adopted on July 21, 2026, authorizing SCHOOL BONDS of the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina in an amount not to exceed $340,000,000, plus interest, for the purpose of providing funds to construct, renovate, expand, improve and equip school buildings and other school facilities, and providing that additional taxes shall be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds, be approved, in light of the following: (1) The estimated cumulative cost over the life of said bonds, using the highest interest rate charged for similar debt over the last 20 years, would be $530,780,800, consisting of the $340,000,000 principal amount of said bonds, plus $190,780,800 of estimated interest. (2) The estimated amount of property tax liability increase for each one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of property tax value to service the cumulative cost over the life of said bonds provided above would be $42.50 per year.”
  2. Question 2:
    “Additional property taxes may be levied on property located in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on bonds if approved by the following ballot question. Shall the order adopted on July 21, 2026, authorizing COMMUNITY COLLEGE BONDS of the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina in an amount not to exceed $60,000,000, plus interest, for the purpose of providing funds to construct, renovate, expand, improve and equip community college facilities in said County for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and providing that additional taxes shall be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds, be approved, in light of the following: (1) The estimated cumulative cost over the life of said bonds, using the highest interest rate charged for similar debt over the last 20 years, would be $93,667,200, consisting of the $60,000,000 principal amount of said bonds, plus $33,667,200 of estimated interest. (2) The estimated amount of property tax liability increase for each one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of property tax value to service the cumulative cost over the life of said bonds provided above would be $7.50 per year.”

GO Bond Information Sessions

To help residents make an informed decision, Cabarrus County is hosting four public information sessions across the county. Each one-hour session includes an overview of the proposed referendum followed by a Q&A opportunity with County and school officials.

  • Wednesday, Sept. 16 Mt. Pleasant Library & Active Living Center — 1111 N. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant, NC 28124 6-7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 29 Afton Ridge Library & Active Living Center — 6095 Glen Afton Blvd., Kannapolis, NC 28027 6-7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 13 Swanee Theatre — 200 West Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28081 6-7 p.m.
  • Monday, Oct. 26 Harrisburg Library — 201 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg, NC 28075 6-7 p.m.

All sessions are free and open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend, no matter where they live in the county.

Additional Resources Before You Vote

Cabarrus County has built an online resource hub with tools to help residents understand the referendum in more detail, including:

Residents with specific questions can also email getinfo@cabarruscounty.us.

The Bottom Line for Voters

This November, Cabarrus County voters will decide how the county addresses more than $1 billion in identified school and community college capital needs. With two separate ballot questions, an online resource hub, and four in-person information sessions scheduled between mid-September and late October, residents have multiple opportunities to get informed before Election Day.

Inform Cabarrus will continue to provide updates on the GO Bond referendum as the November election approaches.

Key Election Dates

  • In-person early voting begins: Wednesday, Oct. 15 (same-day registration available)
  • General Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Residents can check their voter registration status and find additional election details on the Cabarrus County Board of Elections website.

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