Henderson County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to authorize up to $25 million in general obligation bonds for farmland preservation. The proposal would provide money for the county’s existing program and would be repaid through property taxes.
The Farmland Preservation Program works with willing landowners to purchase development rights and permanently conserve farmland. The bond would provide additional financing for that approach, linking the proposed borrowing to the county’s established work with owners who choose to preserve their land.
The county estimates that the bonds would require a property-tax increase of up to 1.01 cents per $100 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $400,000, that would mean approximately $40.40 in additional county property taxes each year.
General obligation bonds are backed by the county’s full faith, credit and taxing power, which is why voter approval is required. The county explains that this type of borrowing finances long-term capital projects and typically carries a repayment period of 20 years.
Approval at the polls would be followed by another step before the bonds could be issued. The Board of Commissioners would have to formally authorize issuance, and the bond sale would be coordinated with the North Carolina Local Government Commission under state oversight.
The referendum asks voters to authorize a financing method for a defined purpose and up to a specified amount. The county explains that individual projects within an approved bond category can change as planning progresses and more detailed cost information becomes available.
If voters reject the proposal, Henderson County would not be authorized to use general obligation bond money for the project. Other sources of funding could still be sought, according to the county’s explanation of what would happen if the referendum fails.
Early voting begins Oct. 15, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Henderson County residents can contact the county Board of Elections at 828-697-4970 for voter registration information and consult the county’s bond questions and answers for financing details. Questions about the bond can be sent to
