The city of Fayetteville announced Friday (Sept. 26) a $320 million bond issue that will include investments in water and sewer systems, parks, fire services, transportation, sustainability initiatives, an animal shelter and a new aquatic center.
According to a news release, two-thirds of the proposed bond issue would be dedicated to water, sewer and transportation infrastructure.
Mayor Molly Rawn said these investments will prepare more areas for housing and support growth. Revenue to support the bonds will come from existing sales tax revenue, according to the city.
“The initiatives in this bond tie back to housing, jobs and our local economy,” Rawn said. “When we invest in reliable water and sewer, safe roads and accessible parks, we’re building the foundation for families, businesses and Fayetteville’s future.”
Rawn presented the 2026 bond initiative[1] to the Fayetteville City Council on Tuesday (Sept. 22). The council is expected to vote in October on whether to place the bond issue on the ballot.
The city council will discuss the bond initiative at its upcoming meetings, and project details will be published for residents to review and provide feedback on, the release shows. If the city council votes in October to put the issue on the ballot, voters will be able to vote on each bond item individually in a March 2026 election.
“This bond is significant, and it’s important that council members and the community have the opportunity to understand the details,” Rawn said. “We want this conversation to be thorough, because this is not a small ask, it’s an investment in Fayetteville and a commitment to the future we want to see.”
Following are the individual bond items.
• Water and sewer upgrades for the wastewater plant, water tank rehabilitation and a 36-inch water line from Beaver Lake.
• Fire department facilities and equipment include a new station, Fire Station No. 10, and training facilities.
• Road and pedestrian improvements comprise the North Street Corridor, from Garland to College avenues, and the Huntsville Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Corridor.
• An aquatic center and improvements to existing parks, including Gary Hampton Softball Complex and White River Baseball Complex. The improvements to existing parks also include new playground equipment.
• A modern animal shelter to better support services that have been offered for over 50 years from the same facility.
• Recycling facilities to support residential needs for recycling drop-off in fast-growing areas of the city.
The 2026 bond issue will build on the investments of the $226.07 million bond issue that Fayetteville voters approved in 2019. It supported multiple city projects such as a new police headquarters, fire stations, road improvements and The Ramble.
“Fayetteville has proven that when we invest wisely, we all benefit,” Rawn said. “This bond gives us the chance to keep moving forward, to protect what matters and to grow responsibly without raising taxes.”
Related
References
- ^ 2026 bond initiative (fayetteville-ar.gov)