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Staff outlines potential 2026 GO bond priorities: open space, housing and oversight openings
Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on leftover 2022 bond balances (about $3.5M open-space) and potential new general-obligation bond needs for open space and housing that could be considered as a 2026 ballot referendum; staff said an additional ~$10M over five years could help meet the county’s 700‑acre conservation goal and that school capital requests are deferred to later cycles.
Rachel Sawyer, strategic partnerships director, gave an overview of remaining 2022 bond balances and possible future general-obligation (GO) bond opportunities. Staff said about $3.5M remains in open-space funding from the 2022 referendum and that housing bond allocations have roughly $9.9M remaining to allocate.
"The overall goal coming from the strategic plan is to conserve 700 acres a year," Sawyer said, adding staff estimate an additional $10,000,000 over the next five years would help maintain that pace. She explained some pipeline projects are county-owned while conservation needs may involve private or partner-owned parcels.
Commissioners discussed priorities such as the Woodfin Riverside Greenway and Ferry Road open-space and infrastructure needs. One commissioner urged focusing bond funds on county‑owned properties or quickly implementable greenway segments rather than complex multi-owner projects until demonstration projects are completed.
Staff also noted the pending parks and recreation master plan — expected this summer — will inform open-space development and greenway priorities. Sawyer asked commissioners to help recruit a conservation/greenways representative for the GO Bond Oversight Committee; commissioners agreed to share the boards-and-commissions posting ahead of advertised deadlines.
