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Delaware County council previews $120 million land‑conservation bond question for voters
Summary
Council previewed Resolution 2026‑1 to submit a ballot question asking voters to authorize up to $120 million in bonds for land conservation — protecting drinking‑water sources, rivers, wetlands, greenways and parks — and clarified the referendum would only place the question before voters, not itself issue debt.
Chair called the preliminary meeting and introduced Resolution 2026‑1, which would ask Delaware County voters at the Nov. 3, 2026 general election whether to authorize up to $120,000,000 in debt for land conservation projects across the county. Solicitor Aubrey told council the item is to place the question on the ballot and is not itself authorization to issue bonds.
"The most important take‑home point…is just to note that this is not a referendum to actually take on the debt," Solicitor Aubrey said, adding the proposal is to give voters the chance to decide whether the county should pursue a bond. Council members said they would reserve formal comment for the full meeting the next day but emphasized its long‑term importance. One council member called it "one of those big things that will have lasting generational impact in this county."
Several council members asked whether the ballot language is broad enough to permit the county to fund partner projects such as Greenway Grants to municipalities. Solicitor Aubrey said bond counsel reviewed the description and that the contemplated uses appear to fit the language, but she offered to re‑review wording to ensure grants to municipalities and similar partners are clearly covered. The council did not vote on the resolution at the preliminary meeting; the item was scheduled for action at the full council meeting on 07/14/2026.
