Voters in more than 40 communities across the state went to the polls this election cycle to determine whether to increase their taxes to fund school construction and major repairs.
As of 11:15 p.m., voters in 14 of those communities were projected to have approved measures to implement an additional 1% sales tax dedicated specially for school construction.
In 29, voters rejected the measure.
Results were still pending in five other localities, including Franklin County.
So far, the measure has been approved in Albemarle, Chesterfield, Middlesex, Prince Edward and Rappahannock counties and in the cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Fairfax, Lexington, Martinsville, Radford, Staunton, Waynesboro and Winchester.
It failed in Alleghany, Amelia, Augusta, Essex, Floyd, Fluvanna, Giles, Grayson, Green, Greensville, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Madison, Mathews, Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Powhatan, Pulaski, Smyth, Stafford, Sussex, Wythe and York counties, and in the cities of Covington, Emporia, Norfolk and Portsmouth.
In some places, the margin was razor-thin, including in Martinsville, where the referendum is projected to pass by just five votes, and in Mathews County, where it is projected to fail by 30 votes. Provisional ballots, such as those from voters who registered on Election Day, and some mail-in ballots must still be counted.
In other communities, voter sentiment was clear.
In Charlottesville, more than 71.7% of voters approved the measure, with about 28% voting no. The numbers were similar in Smyth County, except 71.5% voted against the new tax.
Forty-seven localities had measures on the ballot this fall to authorize an additional 1% sales tax dedicated to school construction and renovation, including nine in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
Radford City Schools Superintendent Adam Joyce was thrilled Tuesday night.
He said he was proud of those who voted in favor of the referendum.
“We have $52 million worth of repairs that need to be done in the next decade,” including “foundational needs” like roof issues and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues, Joyce said by phone.
He also said the expected revenue from the sales tax — which for Radford is projected to be about $1.5 million a year — could free up some money for other facilities projects that might have been “kicked down the road” without it.
He credited a recent facilities study and help from the Coalition of Small and Rural Schools and a consulting group with getting the message out to voters.
“We told folks that would listen, we said, look, so our colors are gold and black. It’s not a red or blue issue, it’s a gold-and-black issue,” he said. “It’s all about these kids, and I think that stuck with some people.”
He also said he was disappointed for superintendents in neighboring communities that did not see the same win.
“I was also checking other localities around us, and it’s just not working out too well for anyone,” he said. “Folks in those localities missed out on a huge opportunity.”
Effort drew bipartisan support, but not all agreed it was the best solution
The ballot measures became possible after lawmakers included the new authority in Virginia’s 2026 budget, expanding a funding option that previously was available only to a limited number of localities.
Over the past five months, county officials and school leaders in many communities have been raising awareness about the rising costs of replacing outdated facilities, repairing roofs and heating and cooling systems, and modernizing school buildings.
In some localities, the measure united voters across party lines. In Prince Edward County, Republican Party Chair Carolyn Bowman and Democratic Party Chair Patsy Watson issued a joint statement endorsing the referendum, which ultimately passed with 54.5% of the vote.
Justin Pope, a Prince Edward County parent, was one of the leaders behind the grassroots “One for Prince Edward” campaign.
“I think this can really be a milestone for Prince Edward. I really am pleased,” Pope said by phone Tuesday night. “I think it shows there can still be common ground around local, common-sense issues. Not everything has to be all about left-right division, and I think we framed a hopeful vision for the kind of place we want to be.”
Prince Edward County officials have long fought for alternative sources of funding for school facilities projects. County Administrator Doug Stanley has often characterized the school division as “the poster child for crumbling schools.”
In 2022, multiple rooms at Prince Edward County Elementary School were rendered unusable due to water damage and mildew. The county already started a $40 million renovation project there, but Stanley told Cardinal News earlier this fall that renovations are still desperately needed at the high school.
Bipartisan support didn’t convince voters everywhere, though.
In Wythe County, both Democrats and Republicans openly endorsed the measure, but it failed, with 63% of voters rejecting it.
In some communities, residents already grappling with increased costs of fuel, groceries and household items worried that local officials would still raise property taxes despite the new funding source for school projects.
Opponents have argued that sales taxes are regressive and place additional burdens on local residents. Even Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, who sponsored the legislation, told Cardinal News this fall that he didn’t think the tax was the best way to fund school projects.
Local and state officials have debated the need for increased funding for school construction for years.
Under the law, local governments may seek approval for a sales tax increase of up to 1%, but the tax is not automatic: Local officials must initiate a referendum, and voters must approve the proposal before the locality can impose it.
The new authority is optional, meaning localities can decide whether the approach fits their financial needs and priorities. The revenue collected through the tax is restricted to eligible school construction and major renovation projects — it cannot be used to cover routine operating expenses.
Under a 2020 law, nine localities previously had the authority to levy the additional tax.
Since then, those cities and counties, which include Henry County, Danville and Pittsylvania County, have raised more than $119 million through the tax.
Early projections show that under the new law, the tax could generate $1.27 billion statewide over three years, with local accounts varying based on how much revenue a community typically generates from sales taxes, according to projections from the Virginia Municipal League, based on data from the Virginia Department of Education.
