School board backs 1% local sales tax referendum to fund school construction

The Washington County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to ask the Board of Supervisors to consider placing a local 1% sales tax on the November ballot to pay for school construction and capital projects.

Dr. Paris, who introduced the item, said the General Assembly's budget language allows localities to place such a referendum and that initial, high-level modeling showed the levy would generate roughly $11 million a year before exclusions for groceries and certain essential products. "That would generate about $11 million," Dr. Paris said, adding that after exempting groceries and hygiene items the net could be closer to "$9 to $10 million." He emphasized the referendum would be a voters' choice and noted the tax would include a sunset once projects or debt service are complete.

Board members asked practical questions about the scope of the tax and who would pay it. Several members said truck-stop and interstate sales could produce substantial revenue from nonresidents. Ms. Nichols, who moved the resolution, said she hoped the local referendum would ease pressure on property taxes and allow the division to address aging buildings.

Motion and vote: Ms. Nichols moved to approve a resolution supporting a referendum to add a 1% sales tax for school capital projects; Ms. Anderson seconded. The motion carried 6-0.

Next steps: The resolution asks the Board of Supervisors to consider placing the question on the November ballot; supervisors must still vote to place the measure before voters. If approved by the supervisors, county staff and school officials will need to publish more detailed revenue estimates that account for grocery exclusions and other carve-outs before the ballot is finalized.