Matthews voters to decide on $35 million for parks, transportation. See what’s planned.
Matthews voters will have their say on $21 million in new funding for transportation projects and $14 million for parks on Nov. 8.
Matthews Mayor John Higdon said the bond referendums come after residents voiced their desire for “improved connectivity and walkability, added parking in the downtown area, more park space and park amenities and additional greenways and trails throughout town.” Higdon said he’s confident the two bond referendums will pass.
The funding would come from general obligation bonds. That means Matthews would use tax revenue to pay for a series of projects if voters say “yes” to one or both bond referendums.
If approved, the bonds would lead to a property tax increase of about 3.5 cents per $100 valuation, Higdon said. That’s about $15 per month on a $480,000 home. Residents can expect tax increases to be spaced out over a number of years, meaning there will be no tax impacts no earlier than 2025 and no later than 2030, said Maureen Keith, Matthews communications coordinator.
What will the Matthews bonds pay for?
The $14 million parks and recreation bond will be used to complete Purser Hulsey Park, finish the Matthews Downtown Loop and add new playground equipment and restrooms at Matthews parks.
The Purser Hulsey Park completion will feature an all-ability playground, nature trails, picnic shelters, a pond, pier, amphitheater, splash park, clubhouse and more. The park already has a dog park, walking and biking trails and a community garden.
“These dollars give us a chance to move these projects forward in a timeline that otherwise could be hard to say that they would actually be able to be completed,” said Corey King, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource director.
Matthews resident George Young said during the public hearing Monday the total amount of money is too much.
“You might be able to get something done for $2.5 million.” He said. “I think the list needs to be shrunk.”
The $21 million transportation bond will include the addition of more than 100 parking spaces downtown, a more walkable and accessible downtown area with wider sidewalks and the extension of Greylock Ridge Road.
Other projects include funding for missing sidewalk segments, 500 feet or less, throughout Matthews. The town also plans to build a 10-foot-wide sidewalk to accommodate bicycles, pedestrians and plant strips along E. John Street from Greylock Ridge to I-485 Outer Ramp.
Matthews resident Bonnie Covington submitted a comment against the transportation bond.
“I respectfully ask each of your on the Matthews Board of Commissions to vote no to the bond referendum,” Covington said in a written letter. “It’s not needed, not the right time, not the right direction to grow the size of local governments and is not desirable to impose an additional tax burden on property owners in perpetuity.”
No one spoke during Monday’s public hearing in favor of the bonds.
Matthews commissioners on Monday voted 4-2, with the exception of commissioners Gina Hoover and Mark Tofano, to put the $21 million transportation and $14 million parks bonds on the Nov. 8 ballot. The bonds now head to Matthews voters for a final approval or denial.
This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 12:19 PM.
