As the state and county select new leaders in this general election, Zebulon residents will be asked to consider financing construction of the city’s streets and sidewalks.
A $20 million transportation bond referendum would allow the eastern Wake County city to afford new improvements to meet new traffic demands and needs as more people move there.
Funding for the bond is a combination of grants from the state Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Residents will see an increase in their property taxes if the measure is approved.
What is in the bond?
The bond is intended to address congestion and traffic safety, said Kaleb Harmon, a city spokesman.
The city just surpassed 12,000 residents this year and expects about 1,000 new people to move there each year.
“With that comes new infrastructure challenges that we have to try to address,” Harmon said.
If passed, the bond will finance two projects in Zebulon:
The North Arendell project adds lanes, sidewalks and medians to make it more pedestrian-friendly and accessible to residents.
The Pearces/Proctor projects include improvements to Jones Street to connect traffic on Proctor Street to North Arendell Avenue and US 264. The roundabout will be located next to Zebulon Elementary School.
The city needs improvements to other areas such as the fire and ambulance station, paving and traffic signal improvements on Shepard School Road.
These projects will be funded through a combination of property taxes, utility bill funds and motor vehicle fees.
What impact will taxes have?
Residents can expect an increase of $42.30 per $100,000 of assessed value, which would be $153.17 for a home valued at $362,000, about the average value in Zebulon.
City officials estimate it will take 20 years to pay off the bond. If the city’s growth increases within that time frame or if the city can obtain additional financing through grants, the debt will be paid off sooner.
The bond would be issued in 2025, with the North Arendell project completed first in 2026 and the second project completed in late 2027.
This year, Wake County completed its home revaluation, providing all homeowners with new estimates of their property values. Residential and commercial property values in Zebulon increased 49%, which was lower than other surrounding cities such as Wendell, which saw a 65% increase.
What other bonds are on the ballot?
In addition to the transportation bond, Zebulon voters will see on the ballot a request for a $142 million Wake County Libraries Bond.
The bond will fund various improvements, expansions and additions to the county’s library system. This includes the replacement of the Wendell Community Library and a new library for Rolesville, the only community without a library.
The Zebulon Community Library is included in the band with renovations such as updating the HVAC system, new furniture and other improvements.
If approved, the tax impact would be $2.50 per $100,000 of assessed property value. A home with a median value of $462,000, Wake County’s median, would see an annual increase of $11.55, according to the county.
Early voting begins
Polls opened early on October 17, allowing voting to begin across the state until November 2. Election day is November 5.
The polling stations are open every day of the week:
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Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 7:30 pm
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Saturday: 8am to 3pm
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Sunday: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Voters in Wake County can vote during early voting at any of the 22 polling places listed on the county’s website, wake.gov, and can still register to vote with proof of residency. Zebulon’s polling place is located at the Eastern Regional Center at 1002 Dogwood Drive.
