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Madison County board orders referendum on 1% sales tax to fund school construction
Summary
The Madison County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution #2026-16 to initiate a referendum asking voters to allow up to a 1% local retail sales tax devoted solely to capital projects for construction and renovation of county public schools; the ballot question and a July 6, 2046 sunset were set and the resolution was forwarded for court review to place the question on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on July 7, 2026, to adopt Resolution #2026-16 and initiate a referendum asking voters to authorize an additional general retail sales tax at a rate not to exceed one percent, with proceeds dedicated solely to capital projects for construction and renovation of Madison County public schools. Vice‑Chairman James Jewett moved to adopt the resolution and Supervisor Mike Snider seconded; the motion passed 4–0 (Supervisor Jud Buchanan absent).
The resolution includes the precise ballot language the Board proposed: "QUESTION: Should Madison County be authorized to levy a general retail sales tax at a rate not to exceed one percent (1%), provided the revenue from the sales tax authorized by Virginia Code §58.1‑605.1 shall be used solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of public schools in Madison County, with such tax to expire upon repayment of any bonds or loans issued to fund such projects by July 6, 2046, or, in the case of capital projects not financed by bonds or loans, the sales tax shall expire on July 6, 2046?" County Administrator Jonathon Weakley presented the proposed resolution and the County Attorney, Hannon E. Wright, confirmed that the language conforms with recent amendments to state law that permit up to a one percent local retail sales tax for school capital projects.
Under the adopted resolution, if the county issues bonds or loans to finance projects, those debt obligations must be repaid by July 6, 2046; if no debt is issued, the sales tax would expire on July 6, 2046. The Board directed the County Attorney and County Administrator to submit the resolution, petition, and proposed ballot language to the Madison County Circuit Court for the required judicial order and for publication and processing consistent with state code ahead of the November 3, 2026 election.
Next steps: the County filed a petition and supporting materials with the Circuit Court requesting an order to schedule the referendum for Nov. 3, 2026, and the court record included a draft order instructing the electoral officers to hold the special referendum on that date and requiring the clerk to publish notice once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to the election.
