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Granville County commissioners call March 3 referendum on quarter-percent sales tax, outline uses for education and public safety
Summary
The board voted Oct. 6 to ask voters whether to authorize Article 46, a quarter‑percent local sales-and-use tax, and approved a statement of intended uses that would roughly split estimated revenue between public education (including a teacher supplement) and emergency services/public safety.
Granville County commissioners voted Oct. 6 to place a quarter‑percent local sales-and-use tax on the March 3, 2026 ballot and approved a statement of intent to spend roughly half the revenue on public education and the remainder on public safety.
Staff presenter David told the board Article 46 is "a 1 quarter percent sales and use tax that counties can levy but first must be approved by voter referendum," noting 49 counties have used Article 46 since the General Assembly approved it in 2007. If the board levies the tax after voter approval, the county’s sales rate would rise from 6.75% to 7.0%. When asked about household impact, David said, "I think the average resident would ... expect to pay about $25 more per year," while stressing actual effects depend on individual spending.
Because state law prescribes ballot language and prevents local governments from restricting how Article 46 funds are spent, county staff framed the board’s approved intent as guidance rather than a legally binding limitation. David summarized the intended-use resolution this way: "These funds would be unrestricted for county use," and the draft directs roughly half the estimated $1.6 million annual yield toward increasing current expense funding for public education — including a previously requested 2% teacher supplement — and the remainder toward emergency services and public safety (EMS equipment and staffing, fire station upgrades and related response-time improvements).
Commissioners discussed specifics — asking whether online sales are included (yes) and whether items such as automobiles or home purchases would be affected (no) — before approving by voice vote both the resolution to call the referendum and the companion resolution stating the board’s intended uses.
Next steps: the board’s resolution directs the board of elections to place the item on the March 3, 2026 ballot. If voters approve the measure, the board could levy the tax no earlier than July 1, 2026; any appropriation of proceeds would be decided later in the county’s annual budget process.
