2024 Bond Referenda

On November 5, 2024 Arlington residents will consider five local bond referenda totaling $273 million. The projects included in these bond questions are components of the County’s Ten-Year FY 2025 – FY 2034 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adopted on July 23, 2024, and the Arlington Public Schools’ FY 2025 – FY 2034 CIP adopted on June 20, 2024. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to pay for several projects.  Detailed project descriptions can be found in the County’s Adopted FY 2025 – FY 2034 CIP.

Arlington currently holds AAA general obligation bond ratings from the three major bond rating agencies. These strong ratings allow the County to borrow at very low interest rates, resulting in lower costs to Arlington taxpayers.

The six referendum questions and explanations for 2024 are below:

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Metro & Transportation

Amount: $72,405,000

Question

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $72,405,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and other transit, pedestrian, road or transportation projects?  

 

Explanation

This proposal will fund a variety of transportation, road, pedestrian enhancement and transit projects across the County. The anticipated costs of the projects that may be financed under this proposal are $44.3 million to fund a portion of Arlington County’s share of WMATA / Metro’s capital improvement program, $22.0 million to fund a portion of the costs for paving local streets and roadways, $1.5 million to fund sidewalk, curb, and gutter proactive zone maintenance, $1.3 million for street lighting, and funding for other transportation projects. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among other transportation projects within the County’s Capital Improvement Plan, as amended from time to time, to the extent necessary or desirable.

 

Local Parks & Recreation

Amount: $25,770,000

Question

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $25,770,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for local parks & recreation?  

 

Explanation 

This proposal will fund a variety of parks and recreation projects. The anticipated costs of the projects that may be financed under this proposal are $8.1 million for Three Urban Parks, $5.8 million for parks maintenance capital and master planning projects, $3.4 million for Trail and Bridge Modernization, $2.4 million for Kenmore Middle School Athletic Field Conversion, and for other parks and recreation projects. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among other parks and recreation projects within the County’s Capital Improvement Plan, as amended from time to time, to the extent necessary or desirable.

 

Community Infrastructure

Amount: $76,150,000

Question

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $76,150,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects, including but not limited to facilities maintenance capital, facilities design and construction, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program, and other County infrastructure?

 

Explanation

This proposal will fund a variety of County infrastructure projects. The anticipated costs of the projects that may be financed under this proposal are $14.0 million for the Arlington Neighborhoods Program, $13.8 million for the Facilities Maintenance Program, $9.2 million for Courts / Police Building Improvements, $8.1 million for the Carlin Springs Site, $6.5 million for the Quincy Site, $6.0 million for Office Space Utilization and Systems Furniture, $4.9 million for consolidation of the situational awareness center and the department of public safety, communications, and emergency management, and for other County infrastructure projects. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among other County and community infrastructure projects within the County’s Capital Improvement Plan, as amended from time to time, to the extent necessary or desirable.

 

Arlington Public Schools

Amount: $83,990,000

Question

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $83,990,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for Arlington Public Schools?

 

Explanation

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools' capital improvement program. The anticipated costs of the projects that may be financed under this proposal are:

• Major Infrastructure Projects ($24,600,000)
• Kenmore Synthetic Turf Field ($2,440,000)
• Refresh Legacy Career Center Building to House Montessori Public School of Arlington ($45,470,000)
• Kitchen and Entrance Renovations ($11,480,000)

The School Board may reallocate bond funds among other school projects within the School Board’s Capital Improvement Plan, as amended from time to time, to the extent necessary or desirable.

Utilities

Amount: $14,220,000

Question

Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $14,220,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of designing, expanding, improving, and renovating Arlington County’s Water Pollution Control Plant and the water and sewer systems serving the County?

 

Explanation

This proposal funds significant improvements to the County’s wastewater treatment, water, and sewer infrastructure. The anticipated costs of the projects that may be funded with bond funds are $9.4 million for the capital improvements to the Washington Aqueduct system, $2.5 million for the Water-Main Replacement Program, $1.3 million for the Activated Sludge Effluent #1 (ASE1) Pump Station Project, $0.5 million for Trades Center Equipment and Improvements, and $0.5 million for Finished Water Reliability and Interconnections. The County Board may reallocate bond funds among other utility projects within the County’s Capital Improvement Plan, as amended from time to time, to the extent necessary or desirable.

 

 

   

Prior Bond Referenda Information 1951-2022(PDF, 205KB)

Office of Voter Registration where more information on General and Special Elections can be found.

For questions on the bond referenda, please contact Jason Friess in the Department of Management & Finance at 703-228-3422 or JFriess@arlingtonva.us