The races at the top of the ballot — for Congress, General Assembly and local leaders — have been getting much of the attention ahead of the midterms. But voters in the Charlotte region will also decide on hundreds of millions in bonds this election.

The bonds include money for housing and transportation in Charlotte, funding for school projects in Union County and transportation projects in Charlotte, Gastonia and Matthews. The City of Concord is asking voters to approve $60 million to improve parks. Big bonds like these typically raise taxes for property owners.

The City of Charlotte has three bonds on the ballot for more than $200 million, but the city said they will not require a tax increase.

In Gastonia, the city expects that growth, along with increasing property tax valuations, would pay for the bonds without raising the property tax rate.

The City of Matthews has two bonds on the ballot. If both pass, the city expects a property tax increase of 3.7 cents per $100. “This means a home estimated at a value of $480,000 would see an increase in the monthly tax bill of $14.83,” according to the city.

Union County has two bonds up for a vote. A $134 million bond for schools could increase property taxes by 1.73 cents. The other bond, $32 million for South Piedmont Community College, would raise property taxes by 0.85 cents per $100 value.

The City of Concord’s $60 million parks bond could raise taxes by 3 cents per every $100.

Voters in North Carolina get to decide when a town, city or county wants to issue bonds to pay for big projects like a new school or park, or improving roads. The state’s Local Government Commission reviews each bond proposal before they go on the ballot.

There are more than two dozen local bond questions on the ballot across North Carolina, and nine are in the Charlotte region.

Bond votes are on the bottom of the ballot, frequently on the back page. Political parties and election officials are working to make sure people don’t forget to flip their ballot over to vote for each race and question on the ballot.

Here are the bonds questions the ballot for the Nov. 8 General Election:

City of Charlotte Transportation Bonds Referendum

Shall the order authorizing $146,200,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, extending and improving certain streets, including streets and roads constituting a part of the State highway system or otherwise the responsibility of the State and including the cost of related studies, streetscape and pedestrian improvements, relocation of utilities, plans and design; acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, widening, extending, paving, milling, resurfacing, grading or improving streets, roads, intersections, parking lots and pedestrian and bicycle paths; acquiring, constructing, reconstructing or improving sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, bridges, overpasses, underpasses and grade crossings and providing related landscaping, lighting and traffic controls, signals and markers; and the acquisition of interests in land and rights-of-way required therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?

City of Charlotte Housing Bonds Referendum

Shall the order authorizing $50,000,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of housing projects for the benefit of persons of low income, or moderate income, or low and moderate income, including construction of infrastructure improvements related thereto and the acquisition of land and rights-of-way required therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?

City of Charlotte Neighborhood Improvements Bonds Referendum

Shall the order authorizing $29,800,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of infrastructure improvements for various neighborhoods of the City, including the cost of related studies, plans and design, acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, installing or providing curbs, gutters, storm drainage, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and relocation of utilities; paving, milling, resurfacing, grading or improving streets, roads and intersections, providing public open space, landscaping, lighting and traffic controls, signals and markers, and acquiring any necessary equipment, land, interests in land and rights-of-way therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?

City of Gastonia Transportation Bonds

Shall the order adopted on August 2, 2022, authorizing $75,000,000 TRANSPORTATION BONDS of the City of Gastonia, North Carolina, plus interest, for the purpose of providing funds, together with any other available funds, to construct, extend, widen, resurface and improve streets, highways and pedestrian walkways inside and outside the corporate limits of said City, including, without limitation, streetscape, traffic signal, lighting and utility improvements, bridges and overpasses, curbs, gutters and parking areas, and the acquisition of any related land, rights of way and equipment, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds, be approved?

Union County General Obligation School Bonds

Shall the order authorizing $134,405,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of providing for the design and construction of facilities for Union County Public Schools to consist of a new Forest Hills High School and East Elementary School, the acquisition of equipment and furnishings therefor and the acquisition of land or rights-of-way, if necessary, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds be approved?

Union County General Obligation Community College Bonds

Shall the order authorizing $32,725,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of providing for the construction, renovation, improvement, equipping and furnishing of facilities for South Piedmont Community College and the acquisition of land or rights-of-way, if necessary, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds be approved?

Town of Matthews Transportation Bonds Referendum

Shall the order authorizing $21,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, widening, extending, paving, resurfacing, grading and improving streets and sidewalks, including, without limitation, curbs, gutters, drains, bridges, overpasses, crossings, lighting, traffic controls, signals and markers, constructing streetscape and mobility improvements and on- and off-street parking, and the acquisition of land, rights-of-way and easements in land required therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?

Town of Matthews Parks and Recreation Referendum

Shall the order authorizing $14,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating, expanding and improving parks and recreation facilities, including, without limitation, multi-use paths and greenways, and any necessary utilities, furnishing and equipment, land, rights-of-way and easements in land required therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?

City of Concord Parks and Recreation Bonds Referendum

Shall the order authorizing $60,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay capital costs of providing parks and recreation facilities, including without limitation land, athletic fields, parks, shelters, parking, lighting, trails and greenways and the renovation and improvement of existing facilities, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?