The bond in six numbers
A general obligation (GO) bond lets the Town borrow money and repay it from property taxes over time. It needs voter approval because it pledges the Town’s taxing power. The Town Council introduced the bond order on May 20, 2026 and held its public hearing on June 17.
Sources: Town of Knightdale Statement of Disclosures (May 20, 2026); knightdalebond.com FAQ.
Estimate your tax impact
The Town estimates the bond would need a property tax increase of up to $0.035 per $100 of assessed value. Knightdale’s town rate is $0.44 per $100 for fiscal year 2027, unchanged from last year, so at the full estimate it would become about $0.475. Type in your property’s assessed value to see what that means for you.
Town portion only, at the Town’s full 3.5-cent estimate. Your Wake County tax (53.71 cents per $100 for FY2027) is billed separately and isn’t affected by this bond. Look up your assessed value on Wake County real estate search.
“Up to” is doing real work here. The Town’s 3.5-cent figure assumes no other money goes toward the debt: no revenue growth beyond a 3% yearly rise in the tax base, no grants, no savings from older debt being paid off. The Town says it intends to keep the actual increase lower by using revenue growth and issuing the bonds in stages. Whether it does is up to future Councils, and any rate change would happen in a regular budget vote.
Sources: Statement of Disclosures, sections (1) and (2); knightdalebond.com FAQ; Town of Knightdale FY2027 adopted budget; Wake County FY2027 adopted budget.
A community center on Marks Creek Road
The centerpiece is a multigenerational community center at 2004 Marks Creek Road. The Town’s project page describes it as:
The building
- 3 gym courts, an indoor stage and a walking track
- 5 multipurpose rooms
- 2 fitness studios
- A warming kitchen
- An administrative suite
Other prospective projects
- A passive/active park
- Harper Park building renovation
- Artificial turf
- Boardwalk replacements
The Town calls these “prospective” projects. The bond order itself authorizes parks and recreation facilities in general, so the final list and timing would be set by the Town Council as bonds are issued. The Town says master plans are in place or underway and work could begin right away if the bond passes; its financing assumptions have the first bonds sold in fiscal year 2028 (July 2027 to June 2028).
Sources: knightdalebond.com Project Details and FAQ; Statement of Disclosures.
Why the Town put it on the ballot
These are the Town of Knightdale’s stated reasons, in summary:
- A community center was identified as the primary need for the 2027 to 2032 period in the Town’s 2021–22 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
- Knightdale is one of two Wake County communities without a stand-alone, town-operated community center.
- The town has grown about 18% since 2020, and its population has more than doubled since 2000.
- GO bonds are the Town’s cheapest way to borrow, helped by its Aa1 (Moody’s) and AA (S&P) credit ratings, and spreading the cost over 20 years matches the life of the buildings.
- If the bond fails, the Town says it would keep capping participation or cutting some youth, teen and adult programs to stay within its existing facilities.
The same documents are also where the trade-offs show up: roughly $30.9 million in estimated interest on top of the $55 million borrowed, and a tax increase of up to 3.5 cents that would sit alongside Wake County’s 2-cent increase this year. How you weigh those is the question on the ballot.
Sources: knightdalebond.com FAQ; Town of Knightdale Municipal Debt page; Statement of Disclosures; Wake County FY2027 adopted budget.
Inside town limits, not just the ZIP code
Only registered voters who live inside Knightdale’s town limits vote on the bond, and only property inside town limits pays the town tax that repays it.
A Knightdale address isn’t proof. Plenty of homes with a Knightdale mailing address and a 27545 ZIP code sit in unincorporated Wake County. If you don’t pay a “Knightdale” line on your property tax bill, the bond probably isn’t on your ballot. The quickest check: look yourself up on the NC State Board of Elections voter search and open your sample ballot.
Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026
- Fri., Oct. 9 · 5 p.m.Regular voter registration deadlineMiss it? You can still register and vote at the same time during early voting.
- Thu., Oct. 15 to Sat., Oct. 31Early voting at any Wake County siteWeekdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sundays 1 to 6 p.m. Same-day registration available.
- Tue., Oct. 20 · 5 p.m.Absentee ballot request deadlineRequest online through the State Board of Elections. Completed ballots must arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.
- Tue., Nov. 3 · 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.Election DayVote at your assigned precinct, which may not be an early-voting site.
Early voting sites closest to Knightdale
All 18 Wake County early-voting sites keep the same hours, and you can use any of them. Bring a photo ID. If you don’t have one, you can still vote by filling out an exception form. Full site list and ID details are on the Wake County Board of Elections page.
Sources: NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election key dates; Wake County Board of Elections, 2026 General Election early voting.
Quick answers
How much would the Knightdale parks bond raise my property taxes?
The Town estimates an increase of up to 3.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, or $35 a year for every $100,000 of assessed value. On a home assessed at $400,000 that is up to $140 a year. The Town says it intends to keep the actual increase lower by using revenue growth and issuing the bonds in stages.
Who can vote on the Knightdale parks bond?
Registered voters who live inside Knightdale town limits. A Knightdale mailing address or 27545 ZIP code is not enough, because many of those addresses are in unincorporated Wake County. Your sample ballot on the NC State Board of Elections voter search shows whether the bond is on yours.
What would the $55 million bond pay for?
Mainly a multigenerational community center at 2004 Marks Creek Road with three gym courts, an indoor stage, a walking track, five multipurpose rooms, two fitness studios, a warming kitchen and an administrative suite. The Town also lists a passive/active park, a Harper Park building renovation, artificial turf and boardwalk replacements as prospective projects.
How much interest would Knightdale pay on the bonds?
The Town’s required disclosure statement estimates $30,861,600 in interest over the life of the bonds, assuming about $37 million is issued in fiscal year 2028 and $18 million in fiscal year 2030, each repaid over 20 years at an assumed 5.344% rate. That puts the estimated total cost near $85.9 million.
When is the vote on the Knightdale parks bond?
The bond is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. Early voting runs October 15 to 31 at every Wake County early-voting site, including Knightdale Recreation Center at 102 Lawson Ridge Road. The regular registration deadline is October 9 at 5 p.m., and you can also register and vote the same day during early voting.
What happens if the bond does not pass?
According to the Town, it would continue to cap participation or eliminate some youth, teen and adult programs so it can maintain program quality with its existing facilities.
Where this comes from
- Town of Knightdale, Statement of Disclosures on General Obligation Bonds (filed May 20, 2026)
- Town of Knightdale, knightdalebond.com: Project Details and FAQ
- Town of Knightdale, Municipal Debt (credit ratings, public hearing date)
- Town of Knightdale, FY2027 adopted budget (town rate unchanged at $0.44)
- Wake County, FY2027 adopted budget (county rate 53.71 cents)
- NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election key dates
- Wake County Board of Elections, 2026 General Election early voting