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Ballot question

Delaware County Referendum: Up to $120 Million in Debt for Land Conservation

On the ballot in
Delaware County
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Shall debt in the maximum principal amount of up to $120 million be authorized for purposes of financing land conservation, including protecting drinking water sources, water quality in rivers and creeks, wildlife habitat, conserving trees to protect air quality, conserving wetlands to prevent flooding, providing greenways and parks, protecting natural areas from development, and related costs, to be incurred by the County as debt approved by the voters, requiring public disclosure and annual independent audits?

A “Yes” vote means

Authorizes Delaware County to take on up to $120 million in voter-approved debt for land conservation, with public disclosure and annual independent audits.

A “No” vote means

Does not authorize the county to take on this voter-approved debt for land conservation.

On every Delaware County ballot (all 382 precinct sample ballots) under the heading "REFERENDUM: DELAWARE COUNTY WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION"; the ballot introduces it with "To the voters of Delaware County, Pennsylvania:". No Plain English statement was found. The county's July 17, 2026 Digest says County Council approved the question unanimously, that Council would have 10 years to issue bonds if voters approve, and that the full $120 million would cost the average household less than $24 a year (a Council member's estimate).

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.