Spartanburg District 2 Bond Passes: The Tax Change Explained

Spartanburg District 2 voters approved $156.6 million for school space and up to $30 million for athletics. Here is the tax change for owners and renters.

Voters approved both Spartanburg District 2 bond questions on November 3, 2026, The Post and Courier reported from unofficial results. The first Spartanburg District 2 bond, $156.6 million, pays for a new K-8 school in Boiling Springs and classroom additions without a tax increase. The second, up to $30 million for athletic and recreation upgrades, raises property taxes by about $50 a year on a $250,000 primary home. If you are looking at homes available now in Spartanburg, here is what the vote changes.

What the Spartanburg District 2 bond questions approved

The district put two questions on the ballot. The second could only take effect if the first passed. Both did.

Question 1: $156.6 million for school space

New K-8 school: built on a district-owned lot at Old Furnace and Bryant Roads in the Boiling Springs community, expected to open in fall 2029.
Classroom additions: new space at Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary and Mayo Elementary, with completion likely in January 2028.
Cost note: the district said one joint K-8 school could save about 10% on construction compared with separate buildings.
Taxes: no property tax increase, according to the article.

Question 2: up to $30 million for athletics and recreation

Boiling Springs High: a new press box, restrooms, concessions, ticketing areas, aluminum home-stand seats, more accessible parking and stair handrails, plus dressing rooms and ticketing at the baseball and softball fields.
Chesnee High: a new press box, field house, home bleachers, LED lighting, restrooms and concessions, plus batting cages and baseball field lighting.
Middle and elementary schools: restroom and athletic upgrades at the middle schools and playground improvements at all nine elementary schools.

The district said its high school stadiums are more than 50 years old and have gone without major repairs.

How the tax change works

Only Question 2 raises taxes. The district's estimates, as reported:

Primary residence worth $250,000: about $50 more per year.
Secondary home or rental worth $250,000: about $75 more per year.
Rate: about $20 per $100,000 of primary home value.
Length: the increase could last until 2051, depending on enrollment and land development.

The gap between $50 and $75 follows state law. Under Section 12-43-220, a home that is the owner's legal residence is assessed at 4% of fair market value, and most other property, including a rental, at 6%. Six is one and a half times four, and $75 is one and a half times $50. That is our arithmetic, and it matches the district's figures. The district's last tax increase was approved by its board in 2019.

Why Boiling Springs needed the space

District 2 serves about 12,200 students. Enrollment grew by about 2,000 over the past five years, and the district expects another 2,000 in the next five to seven years. That projection is the district's estimate, not a certainty.

The district also said its borrowing capacity depends on assessed property value, and that its tax base is mostly residential. Neighboring districts have more commercial and industrial property, which generates higher assessments. In plain terms, homes carry more of the load in District 2.

What it means for buyers, owners and land sellers

Homebuyers

Millage follows the school district a parcel sits in. Before you compare two homes in Spartanburg County, confirm the district on the county tax record so your tax estimate uses the right rate. If the home will be your legal residence, apply for the 4% ratio; our guide to the South Carolina 4% property tax rate explains how.

Rental owners

A $250,000 rental in the district pays about $75 a year more under the district's estimate. Put that in your carrying costs now. Our guide to the numbers on a new construction rental lists the other lines to check.

Land sellers

The district is planning for growth that tracks new homes. A district that expects 2,000 more students in five to seven years is planning around continued residential development. If you own land in the area, submit your property for a review.

How Red Cedar Homes is reading it

A bond vote is part of knowing a market, said Bryan De Bruin, Owner and CEO of Red Cedar Homes.

"Spartanburg is a market we know lot by lot. The tax line on a home follows the district it sits in, so we read a bond vote the same way we read a plat." Bryan De Bruin, Owner and CEO, Red Cedar Homes

"We give a stated price, with options priced before contract. That gives you a clear base, so a change like $50 a year is a line you add, not a surprise." Bryan De Bruin, Owner and CEO, Red Cedar Homes

"Our homes work two ways, to live in or to own. If it is a rental, the tax is higher than for an owner who lives there. Put the district's number in your budget before you buy." Bryan De Bruin, Owner and CEO, Red Cedar Homes

Frequently asked questions

Did the Spartanburg District 2 referendum pass?

Yes. Both questions passed on November 3, 2026, according to unofficial results reported by The Post and Courier. Question 1 authorizes $156.6 million for a new K-8 school in Boiling Springs and classroom additions. Question 2 authorizes up to $30 million for athletic and recreation upgrades and raises property taxes.

How much will my property taxes go up in Spartanburg District 2?

The district estimated about $50 a year on a $250,000 primary residence and about $75 a year on a $250,000 secondary home or rental. The rate is about $20 per $100,000 of primary home value. Only the $30 million athletics question raises taxes, and the increase could last until 2051.

When will the new Boiling Springs K-8 school open?

The district expects the new K-8 school on Old Furnace and Bryant Roads to open in fall 2029. Classroom additions at Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary and Mayo Elementary are likely to be finished in January 2028. The district gave no firm timeline for the stadium and playground work.

Find a home in Spartanburg with a stated price

See available homes in Spartanburg and Greenville, or talk to our team about a home to live in or to own in Spartanburg.

Sources

Figures as of November 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to your attorney or CPA about your situation.

Spartanburg District 2 Bond Passes: A New Boiling Springs School and a Tax Change