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Wythe County to Put 1% Sales‑Tax Referendum on Ballot to Fund $70M in School Projects
Summary
County staff told the board a November ballot question would authorize a 1% local option sales tax that would fund new school construction and renovations (projects estimated in the presentation at over $70 million) and would expire no later than June 30, 2046.
County staff presented a detailed overview of a proposed local option 1% sales tax referendum that the board authorized to pursue for placement on the November 3 ballot. The sales tax proceeds would be restricted to capital projects for school construction and renovation and related debt service.
In the staff presentation the county estimated the combined projects at "over $70,000,000" and explained that the tax would be collected by retailers and remitted through the state; the tax would be dedicated to a restricted school capital fund and would not be available for school operating expenses such as teacher salaries. Staff also projected that the county could expect roughly $3–6 million annually depending on local activity and comparisons to neighboring counties.
The ballot question presented to the board reads in the staff summary as authorization "to levy an additional local sales tax at a rate of 1% with revenues from such tax to be used solely for capital projects for the construction and renovation of schools in Wythe County including related bond and loan financing costs and with such tax to expire no later than 06/30/2046." The board approved moving forward to file the necessary paperwork and bring the referendum to the court so the question can appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The county noted that if voters approve the measure, revenues would be placed in a restricted capital fund and applied to listed school projects; staff said additional public information will be shared in coming weeks.
