What does a YES vote on Arlington County mean?

Arlington County could borrow up to $58,825,000 by issuing bonds for facilities maintenance, design and construction, information technology, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program and other county infrastructure.

What does a NO vote on Arlington County mean?

Arlington County would not issue these $58,825,000 in bonds.

Does this raise my taxes?

The question does not set a tax rate. ARLnow reported that the county's bonds other than the utilities bond are repaid from the General Fund over time, and the county did not publish a per-household cost for this question. The County Board sets the property tax rate each year in its budget.

Is the money locked into the listed projects?

Not exactly. The county lists planned amounts, but the Board may reallocate bond funds among other county and community infrastructure projects in its Capital Improvement Plan if necessary or desirable.

What are the other bond questions?

Metro and Transportation ($69,745,000), Local Parks and Recreation ($34,945,000), Arlington Public Schools ($80,000,000) and Utilities ($20,745,000). Each passes or fails on its own.

How many votes does Arlington County need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Arlington County?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Arlington County — Community Infrastructure

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 3:09 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: QUESTION: Shall Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $58,825,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects, including but not limited to facilities maintenance capital, facilities design and construction, information technology, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program, and other County infrastructure?
A YES vote means: Arlington County could borrow up to $58,825,000 by issuing bonds for facilities maintenance, design and construction, information technology, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program and other county infrastructure.
A NO vote means: Arlington County would not issue these $58,825,000 in bonds.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Arlington County pays for much of its construction and major repairs by selling general obligation bonds, which voters approve in referendums held in November of even-numbered years. The county is rated AAA by Moody's, S&P Global and Fitch, ARLnow reported.
Voters authorized $1.26 billion in county general obligation debt in 2018 through 2024. ARLnow reported that about $458 million of that would remain approved but not yet sold after a June 2026 bond sale.
Arlington voters approved the last community infrastructure bond, $76.15 million in 2024, with 71.8% voting yes. Every community infrastructure bond since 2006 has passed with between 62% and 74.5%.

If it passes

A 'yes' vote lets the county borrow up to $58,825,000 by issuing general obligation bonds for facilities maintenance, facilities design and construction, information technology, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program and other county infrastructure.
The county's planned uses: about $10.0 million for the Ballston Public Parking Garage, $9.3 million for critical systems infrastructure, $8.5 million for the facilities maintenance program, $7.5 million for Arlington Central Library, $7.2 million for technology projects, $6.6 million for the Detention Facility, $2.0 million for the Arlington Neighborhoods Program and $7.7 million for other county infrastructure. The County Board may move money among projects in its Capital Improvement Plan.
A 'no' vote means the county cannot issue these bonds; it would have to delay the projects, cut them, or pay another way.
This is one of five Arlington bond questions totaling $264,260,000; each is voted on separately.

Who would notice

Arlington County taxpayers, who repay general obligation bonds over time, and users of the facilities involved, including the Central Library, the Ballston garage and county buildings. The county did not publish a per-household cost estimate for this question.

How it got here

The County Board adopted the FY 2027-FY 2036 Capital Improvement Plan and approved the 2026 bond referenda on July 21, 2026. The County Manager's May proposal had put this question at $56.8 million; the Board's final amount is $58.825 million.

ARLnow reported that under the 10-year plan, county debt service would rise from $157 million a year to $219.5 million by fiscal 2036, about 4% a year on average, compared with 5.4% a year over the past decade.

What each side says

Supporters

The County Board says the bonds pay for maintaining and upgrading existing county facilities and systems, including the Ballston garage, Central Library, the Detention Facility and critical building systems. County Manager Mark Schwartz said keeping current facilities working well is the county's first obligation; Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said of bond financing, 'This is how we pay for infrastructure.' · Arlington County Board and County Manager Mark Schwartz

Opponents

No organized opposition to the 2026 community infrastructure bond was found in county materials or 2026 news coverage. · SpectrumVote review of county materials and news coverage

In the news

County manager proposes $4.3B capital plan, seeks five bond referendums · ARLnow, 2026-05-21
County Board OKs sale of $208M in bonds, supporting infrastructure and other priorities · ARLnow, 2026-05-21

Written by SpectrumVote from 6 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

Arlington County says this is one of five bond referenda totaling $264 million on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The projects come from the county's FY 2027-FY 2036 Capital Improvement Program, adopted July 21, 2026, and Arlington Public Schools' FY 2027-FY 2036 CIP, adopted June 18, 2026.

According to the county, the $58,825,000 would fund $10.0 million for the Ballston Public Parking Garage, $9.3 million for critical systems infrastructure, $8.5 million for facilities maintenance, $7.5 million for Arlington Central Library, $7.2 million for county technology, $6.6 million for the Detention Facility, $2.0 million for the Arlington Neighborhoods program, and $7.7 million for other projects.

The county says the County Board may reallocate the money among other county infrastructure projects in its Capital Improvement Plan.

Put on the ballot by Arlington County Board, with its FY 2027-FY 2036 Capital Improvement Program adopted July 21, 2026.

From official source.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Arlington County mean?: Arlington County could borrow up to $58,825,000 by issuing bonds for facilities maintenance, design and construction, information technology, the Arlington Neighborhoods Program and other county infrastructure.
What does a NO vote on Arlington County mean?: Arlington County would not issue these $58,825,000 in bonds.
Does this raise my taxes?: The question does not set a tax rate. ARLnow reported that the county's bonds other than the utilities bond are repaid from the General Fund over time, and the county did not publish a per-household cost for this question. The County Board sets the property tax rate each year in its budget.
Is the money locked into the listed projects?: Not exactly. The county lists planned amounts, but the Board may reallocate bond funds among other county and community infrastructure projects in its Capital Improvement Plan if necessary or desirable.
What are the other bond questions?: Metro and Transportation ($69,745,000), Local Parks and Recreation ($34,945,000), Arlington Public Schools ($80,000,000) and Utilities ($20,745,000). Each passes or fails on its own.
How many votes does Arlington County need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Arlington County?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Arlington County ballot.

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