Wake County Authorizes $25M Bonds, $23.5M Hospitality Tax for Local Projects

The Wake County Board of Commissioners authorizes up to $25 million in lease obligation bonds to accelerate construction of a new EMS station, a public safety station and the Hammond Road Annex. Commissioners said the bond authorization is aimed at ensuring timely construction of those county facilities rather than delaying work while seeking other funding sources.

In the same session, the board commits $23.5 million in hospitality tax funding for 12 capital projects focused on arts, sports and culture. The allocation covers a dozen capital projects that county leaders identified as priorities in the hospitality tax spending plan, directing the revenue toward local cultural and recreational infrastructure.

A public hearing preceded the board’s votes at the Feb. 16, 2026 meeting of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners reviewed the proposed bond authorization and the hospitality tax allocations during that hearing before moving to formal action later in the meeting.

The $25 million authorization is structured as lease obligation bonds, a financing tool the county is using to move facilities projects forward while finalizing longer-term budget plans. The projects named for that financing include an EMS station to serve Wake County emergency medical services, a public safety station to support county emergency response, and the Hammond Road Annex, a county facility project tied to operations on Hammond Road.

Hospitality tax proceeds totaling $23.5 million will be directed across 12 capital projects in the arts, sports and culture sectors. The board’s commitment formalizes the use of lodging and tourism-related revenues for capital investments intended to support cultural venues, sports facilities and related community amenities across Wake County.

County leadership approved both measures during the February session to align immediate construction needs with dedicated revenue streams. The actions set the financial framework for the named public safety and cultural projects to proceed through procurement and construction phases under Wake County oversight.