In November 2006, voters approved a $970 million bond for school construction.

Voters were asked to consider these facts:

• Wake County MUST build schools for more than 7,500 new students per year, whether the bonds passed or not;
• Compared to other finance methods for a $970 million building program, voter-approved General Obligation School Bonds will save taxpayers $56 million
• Bonds are a way to borrow money immediately to finance schools over a long period of time and at the lowest cost to taxpayers;
• Bonds are a way for current and future residents to share the cost of schools over time;
• Wake County's superior AAA credit rating earns us the lowest interest rates on bonds.

Costs of New Schools

Wake County is projected to collect from the lottery $9 million a year for school construction.  That doesn't cover half the cost of construction and land for one elementary school.  Speaking of costs for new schools.

• It costs approximately $25 million for land, construction and equipment of a new 800 (1,124 on a YR calendar) - student elementary school opening in 2009-2010.
• It costs approximately $46 million for land, construction and equipment of a new 1,311 (1,623 on a YR calendar) - student middle school opening in 2010-2011.
• It costs approximately $79 million for land, construction and equipment for a new 2,2233-student high school opening in 2010-2011.