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School Board asks supervisors to pursue 1% sales-tax referendum to fund school construction
Summary
The board voted unanimously to request that the Augusta County Board of Supervisors place a 1% local sales-tax referendum on the ballot for school construction; members said the revenue would be restricted to school construction and discussed likely priority projects including Valley Tech renovation and a new bus garage.
Chair (S1) briefed the board on a recent General Assembly law that allows localities to send a 1% sales-tax question to voters but restricts proceeds to school construction. Board members discussed the county's capital needs, including a bus garage and renovations at Stewart Middle and Valley Tech, and weighed the tax's local impact.
"The referendum would then go to the residents of Augusta County, and they would vote on it," the chair said, noting that an application would have to be filed by Aug. 14 to appear on a fall ballot. Several board members expressed reluctance about raising taxes but also acknowledged limited other revenue options and rising construction costs. One member cited the county's current annual contribution of $9.2 million toward debt service and said, without the referendum, some projects could be delayed at least 10 years.
After discussion, board member S8 moved and S5 seconded a motion to ask the Board of Supervisors to move forward with the referendum application; the motion passed by voice vote ("Motion carries 6 0"). The chair said it will be incumbent on individual board members to inform constituents so voters can make an informed decision.
