April 20, 2026
The Vote
New Hanover County Commissioners unanimously approved their intent to apply to the State’s Local Government Commission (LGC) to place a $320.5 million school bond on the November ballot — the next formal step in the approval process.
What’s Included
Top projects include a new Trask Middle School on the SEA-Tech campus ($94.7M), Phase I of the New Hanover High School Master Plan ($59.7M), and a replacement building at Pine Valley Elementary ($56.3M), along with additional school improvements across the district.
What It Could Cost
The current estimate is a tax increase of 1.75 cents per $100 of property value — about $87.50 annually for a $500,000 home. Officials note that figure may change as analysis continues.
What Comes Next
Pending LGC approval, a public hearing is set for June 1. If voters approve the bond in November, the first tranche of $150 million could be released as early as February 2027, with projects expected to take three to five years to complete.
Read the full article from WHQR →
New Hanover County commissioners take next step in $320.5 million school bond process
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