Chesterfield board votes to send 1% school-sales-tax question to the ballot

The Chesterfield County board voted to petition the Circuit Court to place a referendum on the November ballot asking whether the county may levy an additional 1% local retail sales tax to fund capital projects for construction or renovation of public schools.

“This resolution simply puts this on the ballot,” presenter Harris told the board, adding that the board is not approving the tax itself tonight but seeking court permission to have voters decide. He said the state authorized all localities to pursue this option as of July 1 and that the local action needed to be taken now to meet election deadlines.

The measure, as explained by Harris, would limit revenue use to new school construction or major renovations not yet in vertical construction and would include a 20-year sunset timed to align with typical bond pay-down schedules. Harris read a sample ballot question and said the board would later adopt an ordinance and could issue bonds if voters approve the referendum.

Board members asked clarifying questions about exemptions and project eligibility before moving to send the petition. After a motion and a second, the board approved the request to petition the court by voice vote; no opposition was recorded on the transcript.

Next steps: the county will file the petition with the Circuit Court to request placement on the November ballot; if the court orders the referendum and voters approve it, the board would return to adopt an ordinance and proceed with bonding under the 20-year sunset.