Early voting for local elections starts in many communities today. In Raleigh, voters will pick a new mayor and members of the city council and school board. But they will also vote on two bond measures dedicated to housing and transportation.
The two bonds total $56 million dollars. Of that, about $40 million would go toward building bike lanes, greenways, and new sidewalks. It is the first bond ever proposed in Raleigh for these types of projects.
Another $16 million bond would be used to give loans for low-income housing. It would also be used for loans to first-time home buyers and homeowners who want to rebuild after the April tornadoes.
The two bond measures will get a yay-or-nay vote on October 11. Voters will also vote for one of three mayoral candidates. If no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote by election day in October, then a runoff will be held in November.