Garner Bond Program
In March 2013,
Garner voters
helped set
the town on a
bold path for
the future. By
overwhelming
margins (at least 2 to 1), Garner
citizens approved four referendums
authorizing more than $35.7 million
in general obligation bonds. The
bonds position Garner to have orderly
growth in the coming years. They will
signifi cantly enhance citizens’ quality
of life and the level of service that the
Town provides.
tax rate increase of 2.75 cents (implemented
across two years—FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16) to
help service the bond debt. Numerous projects
funded by the bonds have been completed,
most notably a new Town Hall and police station.
Current major construction projects include the
Garner Recreation Center at Main and Montague
streets in historic downtown Garner. It’s due
to be completed by the summer of 2018.
Here’s a summary of the four types of bonds
that voters approved:
• Voters authorized the Town to issue Public
Safety and Services Facilities Bonds totaling
up to $12 million. These bonds have funded
the police headquarters at 912 7th Ave.,
which opened in December 2015, and the
new, 26,000-square-foot Town Hall, which
opened in July 2017 at the site of the old
municipal buildings at 900 7th Ave. The
expanded space and upgraded technology
at the new Town Hall enables staff to provide
timely and effi cient service to residents as
Garner grows in the coming decades. A key
new feature of the building is consolidating
Development Services departments and
having one customer-service intake area for
the departments on the fi rst fl oor near the
front entrance.
• Voters authorized the Town to issue Street
and Sidewalk Improvement Bonds totaling
Support for the bond program was
overwhelming. Seventy-fi ve percent of
voters cast their ballots for Public Safety and
Services Facilities Bonds, 73 percent for Street
and Sidewalk Improvement Bonds, 70 percent
voted for Parks and Recreational Bonds and
66 percent for Redevelopment Bonds.
Since that 2013 election, the Town has had two
bond issues totaling approximately $24.5 million.
A third bond issue will occur at a yet-to-be-
determined date. There was a municipal property
14
garnernc.gov