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Henderson County introduces $25M farmland preservation bond; public hearing set for Aug. 6
Summary
County commissioners introduced a $25 million general obligation bond order to fund farmland preservation, adopted required financial disclosures estimating $14,028,000 in interest and a modest tax impact, and set a public hearing for Aug. 6, 2026 ahead of a Nov. 3 referendum.
The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on July 27 introduced a bond order authorizing up to $25,000,000 in General Obligation Open Space (Farmland) Preservation Bonds intended to buy development rights and protect farmland and scenic landscapes.
Vice-Chair J. Michael Edney moved to introduce and read the bond order; the order states taxes would be levied as needed to pay principal and interest and that any bonds issued would take effect only if approved by county voters in a referendum scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. County Manager John Mitchell and Finance Director Samantha Reynolds briefed the Board on required procedural steps before the bond can proceed to a vote.
The Board adopted a Statement of Disclosures that estimates total interest of $14,028,000 under conservative assumptions and an estimated property tax rate increase of $0.0101 per $100 of assessed valuation (equivalent to $10.10 per $100,000). Commissioner Rebecca McCall moved a resolution directing a public hearing on Aug. 6, 2026 at or about 9:30 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room and instructing the Clerk to publish the required notice. The finance director was directed to file a sworn statement of debt with the North Carolina Local Government Commission and to post the disclosures online.
The introduction of the order begins the legal process required by the Local Government Finance Act and the Local Government Bond Act; the Board noted that it cannot vote to issue the bonds until after the statutorily required public hearing and any subsequent steps with the Local Government Commission.
