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Caroline County school board asks supervisors to put 1% local sales tax referendum on November ballot to fund school capital projects
Summary
The Caroline County School Board voted unanimously July 13 to request that the Board of Supervisors place a 1% local sales and use tax referendum on the November ballot, citing urgent capital needs and the narrow window for court review required for a November election.
The Caroline County School Board voted unanimously on July 13 to ask the Board of Supervisors to place a 1% local sales and use tax referendum on the November ballot to raise money for school construction and capital needs.
Why it matters: Board members said the county faces long‑standing facility needs — including a proposed new elementary school — and that the 1% option, enabled by the recently passed state budget language, could generate roughly $4.5–5 million annually for capital projects if voters approve it. The board adopted a resolution and asked staff to send it with a cover letter outlining the tight timeline for court review needed to make the November ballot.
Board action and timing: The motion — “to take official action to request the Board of Supervisors to take the required action to place the 1% sales tax referendum on this November’s ballot” — passed on a unanimous roll call. Members discussed leaving the specific language open for minor edits, but stressed urgency: court approval and local scheduling must occur by mid‑August for inclusion this November. Dr. Sarah Kalverick told the board staff would prepare a timeline to send with the resolution.
Support and context: Delegate Nicole Cole, who represents House District 66 and was in the audience, said at public comment she will continue to support at the state level efforts that allow counties to put a local 1% sales and use tax before voters. “The 1% sales and use tax … can be on the ballot this fall in November,” she told the board.
What the board asked of supervisors: The resolution asks the Board of Supervisors to take all actions necessary to place the referendum before voters at the earliest legally permissible election and requests consideration of a special called meeting if scheduling prevents action before the courts’ deadline.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the resolution text with board input and deliver it, with an explanatory cover letter and timeline, to the Board of Supervisors. If scheduling or court timing prevents placement on the November ballot, the resolution also asks the supervisors to consider a special election rather than delay until the following year.
