Wake County voters approve $680 million school bond

As of 5:39 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026

Wake County voters approved a $680 million bond for the Wake County Public School System on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

With all 216 precincts reporting, 320,989 voters, or 63.43%, voted yes and 185,094, or 36.57%, voted no, the state board's unofficial results show. The results are not final until the county canvass certifies them.

WCPSS said on its bond page that, with voter approval, the county government will issue the bonds. County commissioners have also agreed to provide $152.3 million in pay-as-you-go cash, for a total of $832,330,990 for school construction in the 2027-28 and 2028-29 fiscal years, according to the district.

What the bond pays for

The bond leans toward fixing existing schools rather than building new ones, according to the district. Under the school board's capital plan, about $329.7 million is planned for major renovations at nine schools, about 40% of it for a new building for Ligon Magnet Middle School, WRAL reported. About $98.7 million will replace aging equipment, roughly half of it heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at nearly two dozen schools.

About $143.2 million will go toward planning and initial construction of three elementary schools in eastern Wake: Marshburn Road in Wendell, Poole Road in east Raleigh and Little Creek in Zebulon, WRAL reported. Another $59.2 million is for laptops and other technology, and about $6.5 million is for trailer classrooms.

The district had 943 mobile or modular classrooms in 2025-26, about 10% of its classroom capacity, WCPSS said. It estimates 77 schools will see some effect from the capital program.

What it costs

The bond will be repaid through a dedicated property tax of $4.10 for every $100,000 of property value, WRAL reported. The county estimates it will pay $363.4 million in interest over the 20-year life of the bond, on top of the $680 million principal.

The Wake County Democratic Party endorsed the county's bonds, while the Wake County Republican Party opposed them, WRAL reported. Voters also approved a $149.1 million bond for Wake Technical Community College, 317,278 votes (62.66%) to 189,101, according to the state board's unofficial results.