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Wythe County to prepare resolution for 1% sales tax referendum to finance $70–80M in school projects
Summary
The Board authorized staff to draft a resolution for a July 14 vote to place a 1% local sales and use tax referendum on the ballot, a measure the School Board says could support $70–80 million in projects including a new Wytheville elementary school and Fort Chiswell renovations.
Wythe County officials said June 30 they will prepare a resolution to put a 1% local sales and use tax before voters to fund major school construction projects estimated at $70–80 million.
County Administrator Stephen D. Bear told the Board that the General Assembly’s adopted budget allows localities to levy an additional 1% sales tax solely for school construction, subject to a voter referendum. That local option would allow the county to issue bonds for projects that the tax would reimburse, Mr. Bear said.
Mr. Bear listed projects the Wythe County School Board has pending, including a new elementary school in Wytheville, renovations to Fort Chiswell High School, and athletic field improvements. He asked the Board to authorize the County Administrator and County Attorney to prepare a resolution for consideration at the board’s July 14 meeting; the Board agreed to prepare the resolution and related materials so a petition or court order could be obtained in time if the Board moves forward (the circuit court would need to order the referendum before July 21 to place it on the general election ballot).
The Board also acted on immediate school funding matters at the same meeting. Mr. Bear relayed a request from Wythe County Public Schools to amend and appropriate $761,107 to the School Board instruction budget for FY26 to reflect additional state bonus payments and Medicaid funds; the Board approved that appropriation unanimously.
If the Board ultimately votes to put a referendum on the ballot, the measure would require administrative steps and a court order before it could appear on the general election ballot; no referendum was ordered on June 30.
