Henrico County voters approved all five bond referendum questions that were placed on the Nov. 8, 2016, general-election ballot. Voters were asked to indicate “yes” or “no” on whether the county should issue debt in the amounts of:
- $272.6 million for schools projects
- $87.1 million for parks projects
- $24 million for libraries projects
- $22.1 million for fire stations and facilities projects
- $14 million for roads projects
Henrico officials had identified more than two dozen projects that would be funded over six years if the referendum questions were approved. All of the school projects were funded over a five-year period.
All projects are now either complete, under construction or funded. They include new and upgraded facilities in all five magisterial districts.
As a county, Henrico is required by state law to get voter approval before issuing debt for capital projects. In preparing for the bond referendum, officials determined the county could manage the new debt without any increase to the real estate tax rate. Even with voters’ approval of the bond referendum, the Board of Supervisors in 2022 lowered the real estate tax rate to 85 cents – a 2-cent reduction from the previous rate of 87 cents per $100 of assessed value.
