Fayetteville voters approve $375 million bond issue

Fayetteville voters approved a $375.5 million bond issue for sewer plant and infrastructure upgrades, street and park improvements, and a new aquatic center, fire station and animal shelter.

All nine items in the bond issue were approved Tuesday (March 3) in the primary election, according to unofficial results. The bond item for the aquatic recreation center was the closest at 7,543 (50.71%) for and 7,333 (49.29%) against. All the other items were approved by wider margins.

The city’s existing 1-cent sales tax will be used to pay for the bond issue.

Mayor Molly Rawn announced a $320 million bond issue in September. In October, the Fayetteville City Council approved sending a $375.5 million bond proposal to a vote. The amount was increased after discussions with underwriters, residents and staff. The bond issue includes all the previously announced infrastructure improvements and amenity projects and includes paying off existing bonds and the bond issuance costs. The total investment, excluding the cost of paying off the existing bonds, is about $335 million, according to the city website.

In January, Build Fayetteville’s Future 2026 launched a campaign in support of all nine items in the bond issue. Jeff Koenig, co-chair of Build Fayetteville’s Future 2026, is a retired business leader who supported previous successful bond efforts in Fayetteville.

The nine bond items include paying off the 2019 bond, water and sewer infrastructure, parks and recreation, animal services, pedestrian infrastructure, road improvements, recycling and sustainability, aquatic recreation center, and fire safety.

The item for water and sewer would dedicate $150 million to maintain and upgrade water and sewer pipes, pumps, tanks and treatment systems. Proposed projects include upgrades at the East Side Wastewater Treatment Plant, repairs to the 36-inch transmission line from Beaver Water District to downtown Fayetteville, improvements to storage tanks, and replacing aging water and sewer lines. According to the city’s website, the bond money will allow the city to complete the work without passing on all the costs to residents through water rates.

The item for the aquatic recreation center would provide $61.9 million to develop a year-round aquatic center for swimming, fitness and recreation. Proposed features include indoor pools for year-round use and outdoor pools for seasonal recreation, space for swim lessons, competition pool, fitness areas, lazy river and slides, accessible features for all ages and abilities, locker rooms, spectator seating and meeting rooms. The city plans to build the aquatic center on city-owned land near the Lewis Soccer Complex. Design and construction are expected to take multiple years to complete.

The item for road improvements would allocate $56 million to repairing and improving streets, intersections, bridges and traffic safety features. Proposed projects include street resurfacing and pavement repairs, intersection safety improvements, bridge repairs or replacements, traffic signal and sign upgrades and roadway improvements for emergency access.

The item for parks and recreation would provide $25.5 million to improve parks, trails, and outdoor spaces used for recreation and community gatherings. Proposed projects include renovating playgrounds and park amenities, improving neighborhood parks, completing trail connections and greenway links, adding shade, seating, and accessibility features, and upgrading safety and maintenance.

The item for fire safety would include $18.65 million for the addition of fire station, apparatus and training facilities. Proposed projects include new or improved fire stations, replacing aging fire apparatus, training facilities, fire marshal offices, and administrative offices, with the ability to expand to meet future training needs. The design and construction of the new station and training facilities would take multiple years to complete.

The item for animal services would allocate $18.1 million to build a modern facility that supports animal care, public health and community safety. Proposed projects include constructing or expanding an animal shelter, improved medical and recovery areas, better space for animal intake and care, adoption and education areas for the public, and safer workspaces for staff and volunteers.

The item for pedestrian infrastructure would provide $3.8 million to sidewalks, side paths, trail connections, and safe routes for walking and biking. Proposed projects include building new sidewalks and side paths, closing gaps in existing sidewalk networks, improving trail connections, adding safer street crossings, and upgrading routes near schools and parks.

The item for recycling and sustainability will dedicate $1.05 million to improve systems that help manage waste, recycling and materials safely and efficiently. Proposed projects include new and expanded recycling drop-off facilities, improvements to waste-handling infrastructure, facilities for household hazardous waste, and equipment upgrades to improve safety and efficiency.

Following are the election results for each item.
Paying off existing bonds: 11,291 (77.51%) for to 3,276 (22.49%) against
Water and sewer: 12,647 (85.27%) for to 2,185 (14.73%) against
Aquatic recreation center: 7,543 (50.71%) for to 7,333 (49.29%) against
Road improvements: 12,155 (82.10%) for to 2,651 (17.90%) against
Parks and recreation: 11,683 (78.61%) for to 3,179 (21.39%) against
Fire safety: 12,868 (86.59%) for to 1,993 (13.41%) against
Animal services: 12,047 (81.23%) for to 2,784 (18.77%) against
Pedestrian infrastructure: 11,210 (75.49%) for to 3,640 (24.51%) against
Recycling and sustainability: 11,596 (78.57%) for to 3,163 (21.43%) against