NeighborsTop story
Hampton Roads voters mostly turn down the 1% school construction sales tax
Portsmouth's school sales tax failed with 61% against
- 61%
- of Portsmouth voters rejected the 1% sales tax
- $200 million
- possible over 20 years, had it passed
- $85 million
- estimated cost of a new K-8 school
- 47
- Virginia localities had the question on the ballot
If you've been wondering how our neighbors voted: a 1% sales tax for school construction mostly failed across Hampton Roads. Middlesex County passed it. Isle of Wight, Mathews, York, Portsmouth, Newport News and Norfolk said no. Forty-seven Virginia localities had the question on the ballot because of a recently passed state law.
- Middlesex: passed with 51% yes, about $1.5 million a year
- York: failed, 39% yes and 61% no
- Tax would apply to clothing and restaurant purchases, not groceries
In Portsmouth, 61% of voters said no to a tax expected to bring in about $10 million a year, or roughly $200 million over 20 years. The school division's top priority is a new K-8 school estimated at $85 million. Spokesperson Lauren Nolasco said the burden "now falls entirely on city leadership," and the division will keep presenting its priorities to City Council during budget planning.
York's proposed tax was expected to raise about $12 million a year, and county officials said York wouldn't have had the authority to put it in place.
