During a regular meeting on April 20, 2026, the Union County Board of Commissioners voted to place a bond referendum on the November 2026 general election ballot. The referendum, if approved by voters, would fund the construction of a new County jail on existing County-owned property next to the current Sheriff's Office Administration building. Commissioners are pursuing the general obligation bond because it is the most cost-effective financing option available.

The proposed project involves building a new detention center with approximately 500 beds and repurposing the existing administrative building connected to the current jail for training and staff support space. County leaders note that the existing jail facility, built in 1994 under a federal court order, currently operates over capacity, lacks room for expansion, and experiences significant mechanical and structural deterioration. These conditions make the existing jail increasingly costly to maintain and create operational and safety challenges for both inmates and detention staff. Commissioners note that renovating the current jail would cost about the same as demolishing it, which limits viable long-term options for the facility.

If voters approve the bond, the property tax rate could increase by an estimated 3.11 cents. Owners of a home valued at $400,000 would pay approximately $124.40 more in annual property taxes.

A general obligation (GO) bond is a type of municipal financing backed by the County’s credit and taxing authority, rather than revenue generated from a specific project. GO bonds are commonly used by local governments to fund large capital projects.

The Board’s action allows the measure to be placed on the November 2026 election ballot for voter consideration. As a capital project requiring a long-term funding source, voter approval is required before the County can issue the bond.