Camden Voters to Decide Bond Funding Road Repairs, Property Tax Hikes

The Camden ballot on 5 November includes a referendum authorizing the city to issue up to 85 million dollars in general obligation bonds for infrastructure work, directly affecting the tax bills mailed to roughly 48,000 residential parcels.

The measure follows the release of the city's 2026 capital budget document, which listed 112 overdue street resurfacing projects and 14 aging municipal buildings requiring structural work. Local government records show that current maintenance allocations cover only 60 percent of identified needs through 2028.

Impacts on household costs and services

Under the proposal, repayment would occur through a dedicated property tax levy projected by the finance department at 48 dollars per year for the median assessed home. Residents in census tracts with older housing stock would see the same flat addition regardless of property value, while commercial parcels would contribute on a separate rate schedule.

Policy analysts note that the bond proceeds would be directed first to resurfacing routes used by public transit buses, followed by repairs at two community centers and one library branch. The legislation specifies that no funds may be transferred to operating expenses or employee salaries.

Views from local experts and residents

Community advocates have pointed out that several neighborhoods already face extended wait times for pothole repairs, with service requests logged in the 311 system averaging 47 days for completion last year. Local budget watchdogs state that the measure would shift a portion of capital costs from future borrowing at higher interest rates.

The government says the policy will complete the listed projects by the end of 2031, with annual progress reports published on the city website. The next step requires a simple majority of votes cast; if approved, the bonds would be sold in the first quarter of 2027 and construction contracts awarded through competitive bidding.