County Administration
Budget and Management
July 28, 2022
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA — Chesterfield County government and school officials presented a planned bond referendum package and fielded questions from assembled media during a joint news conference Thursday afternoon.
Beginning Sept. 23 with early voting for the 2022 general election and continuing through Election Day on Nov. 8, Chesterfield residents will be asked to vote on the Community Facilities Bond Plan to authorize the issuance of $540 million in General Obligation bonds.
If approved by voters, the bond proceeds will fund 26 capital improvement projects in four categories -- schools, public safety, libraries and parks – over the next 8 to 10 years.
“We want to be engaged with people on this particular topic,” said County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey. “We respect their right to vote. All we can do is give them the information so they can make a well-informed decision.”
The largest share of the Community Facilities Bond Plan ($375 million) is allocated to Chesterfield County Public Schools for the following projects:
- Replacement of A.M. Davis Elementary ($40 million)
- Replacement of Bensley Elementary ($42 million)
- New elementary school in western Route 360 ($43 million)
- New high school in western Route 360 ($135 million)
- Replace Grange Hall Elementary ($43 million)
- Thomas Dale High School expansion ($22 million)
- Replace Midlothian Middle School ($50 million; the total project cost is $100 million, half of which will be funded through other sources)
The county government is slated to receive $165 million, broken down as follows: $81.1 for public safety (police and Fire/EMS), $45.7 million for libraries and $38.2 million for parks and recreation.
More than half of the public safety funding, or $42 million, will be used to replace two of Chesterfield’s oldest fire stations (Chester and Ettrick) at $12.3 million apiece. Fire and EMS also plans to expand and renovate the Clover Hill and Dutch Gap stations for $9.3 million and $8.1 million, respectively.
The Chesterfield Police Department plans to vacate its current leased space and move into four newly constructed, county-owned stations: Western Route 360, Chester and Westchester ($10.1 million apiece) and Stonebridge ($8.8 million).
The library funding is slated for three projects: Enon Library replacement ($17 million), construction of a new library in western Route 360 ($16.5 million) and expansion of the Ettrick-Matoaca Library ($12.2 million).
Most of the parks and recreation funding is allocated to enhancements at River City Sportsplex ($17.2 million) and Horner Park ($10 million). There is also $5 million for a boat launch on the James River in Enon, $4 million for Falling Creek water access and $2 million for creating new public access points in county-owned conservation areas.
“Chesterfield is a big place. We’ve made sure to be attentive to all districts, communities and neighborhoods while crafting this plan,” said Matt Harris, deputy county administrator for finance and administration.
For more information about the Community Facilities Bond Plan, visit chesterfield.gov/bond.
