Person County Schools is providing factual information to help residents understand the proposed bond, the district's identified facility needs, and the election process. As the district responsible for operating the school system, PCS routinely shares information about facility planning, capital projects, and matters that may affect students, families, staff, and the community.

What is a bond referendum?

A bond referendum is an election in which registered voters decide whether to authorize a local government to issue bonds for a specific purpose. In this case, Person County voters will decide whether to authorize bonds for the proposed school projects.

What is a school bond?

A school bond is a way for local governments to borrow money for major capital projects, such as constructing new schools, renovating existing facilities, or making significant infrastructure improvements. The borrowed funds are repaid over time according to the terms of the bond. In North Carolina, general obligation bonds for projects such as school construction require voter approval before they can be issued.

Why are bonds used for school construction?

School construction projects typically require substantial capital investment. General obligation bonds allow counties to finance eligible capital projects over time rather than paying the full cost in a single budget year. Bonds allow communities to spread the cost of long-term facilities over many years while providing schools that can serve students for decades.

What is the proposed bond project and amount?

If approved by voters, the proposed general obligation bond would authorize Person County to issue up to $107 million to finance eligible school capital projects.

The proposed projects include:

• Construction and equipping of a new middle school.

• Renovation of the current Northern Middle School and Southern Middle School buildings for use as elementary schools.

• Other eligible improvements and renovations to school facilities associated with the project, as outlined in the official bond order.

The bond order will become effective only if it is approved by a majority of Person County voters in the Nov. 3, 2026, bond referendum.

Who decides whether the bond passes?

The proposed bond referendum will be decided by registered voters participating in the Nov. 3, 2026, election. A majority vote is required for approval.

Does the proposed bond affect property taxes?

The Person County Board of Commissioners is responsible for county tax rates and financing decisions.

As part of the July 6, 2026, Board of Commissioners agenda materials, the County provided a preliminary estimate indicating that a property tax increase of $0.095 per $100 of assessed valuation (approximately $95 annually for property assessed at $100,000) may be required to repay the proposed bonds.

Because this estimate was prepared by Person County and future tax rates are determined by the Board of Commissioners, residents should refer to the County's official bond materials for the most current financial information.

Why is there a vote?

North Carolina law requires voter approval before counties can issue general obligation bonds for projects like school construction. The referendum allows residents to decide whether to authorize the county to borrow funds for the proposed project.

Who can vote?

Any registered voter in Person County who is eligible to vote in the election may participate in the bond referendum.

For voter registration deadlines, early voting information, absentee voting, and polling locations, visit the Person County Board of Elections.

When will the vote take place?

The bond referendum will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3, 2026.

What happens if voters approve the bond?

If a majority of voters approve the bond referendum:

• Person County would be authorized to issue the approved bonds.

• The county would determine the timing of issuing the bonds as needed for the projects.

• Bond proceeds may only be used for the purposes authorized in the bond referendum.

• Planning, design, bidding, and construction would move forward according to the project's timeline and applicable regulations.

Approval of the referendum authorizes the county to borrow funds for the approved project; it does not mean construction begins immediately.

What happens if voters do not approve the bond?

If a majority of voters do not approve the bond referendum:

• The county would not be authorized to issue the proposed bonds.

• The proposed projects would not move forward using this source of funding.

• Any future school construction proposal would require additional action by the Board of Education, County Commissioners, and, if applicable, a future bond referendum.

Who owns and maintains the school?

School facilities are owned and operated by Person County Schools. The Board of Education is responsible for the operation and maintenance of school facilities, while the County provides funding for capital construction and major facility improvements as required by North Carolina law.

Why can't Person County Schools use North Carolina Education Lottery funds instead of a bond?

Person County Schools receives funding each year through the North Carolina Education Lottery for eligible school capital needs. In recent years, the district has received approximately $650,000 annually in lottery capital funds.

These funds are used to support a variety of capital improvement and renovation projects across the district, such as building repairs, maintenance, equipment replacements, and other eligible facility needs. Because these funds are distributed annually and are limited in amount, they are typically used to address ongoing capital needs throughout the district.

Major construction projects, such as building a new school or completing large-scale renovations, generally require funding beyond the amount provided through annual lottery allocations.

A list of how Person County Schools has used North Carolina Education Lottery capital funds in previous years is available here.

What actions has Person County Schools already taken to address enrollment growth and facility needs?

Addressing facility needs is an ongoing process. Before recommending a long-term capital project, Person County Schools has implemented a number of strategies to make the best use of existing school facilities and accommodate enrollment changes.

These efforts have included:

• Attendance boundary adjustments (redistricting) to better balance student enrollment and available capacity across schools.

• Ongoing facility maintenance and capital improvements to extend the life of existing buildings and address priority infrastructure needs.

• Routine evaluation of enrollment trends and demographic projections to help plan for future student growth.

• Comprehensive facility assessments and long-range planning through the district's Strategic Plan and PCS 2030 Facilities Plan to evaluate school capacity, building conditions, infrastructure needs, and future facility requirements.

While these efforts have helped maximize the use of existing facilities, the district's planning process also identified continued elementary capacity challenges, projected enrollment growth, and significant capital needs that require long-term planning.

Can bond money be spent on anything other than what voters approve?

No. General obligation bond funds may only be used for the purposes authorized by voters in the bond referendum and as outlined in the official bond documents.

How is a bond different from the school district's annual budget?

The annual operating budget supports the day-to-day operation of the school district, including employee salaries, transportation, instructional materials, utilities, and other operating expenses.

A bond provides funding for eligible long-term capital projects, such as constructing new schools, renovating existing facilities, and making major infrastructure improvements. Bond proceeds cannot be used for routine operating expenses.

Can bond funds be used for teacher salaries or classroom supplies?

No. General obligation bond funds may only be used for the capital purposes authorized by voters. They cannot be used for teacher salaries, employee benefits, instructional supplies, utilities, or other routine operating expenses.