FAQ
Q: What is a bond and how will this type of financing be used?
A: Local and state governments borrow money by issuing bonds to finance major capital projects that are above and beyond the scope of the annual budget process. A general obligation bond is a long-term borrowing in which a County pledges its full faith and credit (taxing power) to repay the debt over a specified term.
Q: Why do we need bonds to build/renovate schools?
A: School renovation and construction projects are very expensive to fund at one time. Bonds spread the cost of major capital improvements over a number of years. This is similar to securing a mortgage on a home and spreading the cost of home buying over a period of years.
Q: How much is the bond worth?
A: The bond will be worth $349 million and will be used to fund new schools and county wide upgrades
Q: I don't have students in BCS, why should I be concerned about this bond?
A: Our children, our teachers, and our communities deserve better. We need to build new schools, modernize existing facilities, and ensure the safety of our students and school staff in Brunswick County.
We face significant capacity challenges, with elementary schools at 93% capacity and all projected to exceed 100% within the next decade. Additionally, the district's 2024-2029 strategic plan identifies critical facility needs, including development and new construction to address overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and safety compliance across our schools.
Please help us spread the word. Our children matter, our dedicated teachers matter, and you matter!
Q: I do not have children in the school system and I live in a retirement community. If my taxes may go up, why should I support a school bond when I feel I have no direct connection to the schools?
A: When people choose to move to Brunswick County, including those relocating here to retire, they increase the demand for everyday services that support the community. These include healthcare, public safety, road maintenance, landscaping, utilities, retail, and many other essential services that contribute to a high quality of life.
The workers who provide these services are often families with children. For them to live and work in Brunswick County, they need access to safe, adequate, and modern schools. When our school system has the space and facilities to serve a growing student population, it helps ensure that these essential workers can remain in the community and continue providing the services residents rely on every day.
When schools struggle to keep up with growth, it becomes harder to attract and retain this workforce. Over time, that can lead to reduced services, higher costs, labor shortages, and broader economic impacts that affect everyone, including retirees. Strong public schools help protect property values, support local businesses, stabilize the workforce, and maintain the overall quality of life that draws people to Brunswick County in the first place.
Even without a direct connection to the schools, residents benefit from a healthy school system. Investing in schools through a bond is an investment in the people, services, and economic stability that support the entire community.
Q: There are charter and private schools in the area. Why should I support a bond for traditional public schools specifically?
A: Charter and private schools are part of the education landscape, but traditional public schools are the only ones required to serve every student who lives in their attendance area, regardless of background, income, or learning needs. Public schools cannot turn students away. When more children move into the community, public schools must find a way to enroll and educate them.
Charter and private schools can limit their enrollment when they reach capacity. Public schools do not have that option. When public schools become overcrowded, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Lunch periods get shorter because it takes longer to feed an entire school. Car lines and bus traffic become more congested during drop off and pick up, which affects travel time for everyone in the area and can complicate routes for emergency services.
The goal of the public school system is to educate every child who comes to our doors. Supporting a school bond helps ensure that our facilities keep up with growth so that students have safe, adequate spaces to learn and the community can function smoothly. Even if a family chooses charter or private options, strong traditional public schools are essential to the health, safety, and stability of the whole community.
Q: A bullet point in the bond presentation titled "High School Design" previously listed high school design costs at $35.1 million. What did that number represent, and why was it shown that way?
A: The $35.1 million listed for high school design costs also included funding for site development and initial construction of the high school. Brunswick County Schools has since broken this information out in greater detail to provide additional clarity and updated that slide.
While the $35.1 million figure was not limited to design alone, large projects of this size include additional project related costs that support the planning, development, and successful delivery of the school beyond direct building construction. These project related costs include items such as:
• Architectural and engineering design
• Construction and project management fees
• Permitting and regulatory requirements
• Site development
• Contingency funding
Based on updated and more detailed estimates, the current design cost is approximately 8 percent of the total project, or $18.7 million, which falls within the design industry standard range of 6 to 10 percent for projects of this size and complexity.
The $198.9 million figure now listed on that slide represents the estimated construction cost of the new high school building. The additional project related costs support the planning, development, and successful delivery of the school but are not part of direct building construction.
This updated breakdown reflects a more transparent and accurate explanation of the project components.