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NeighborsThursday, November 5

Hampton Roads voters mostly turn down the 1% school construction sales tax

The Daily Chesapeake teamFrom today’s edition · 1 min read · 3 sources

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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.

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

Sources: WTKR, WHRO

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.

York's tax was expected to raise about $12 million a year

Sources: WTKR, WHRO

View as table
Value
York (failed)$12 million
Portsmouth (failed)$10 million
Middlesex (passed)$1.5 million

Sources: WTKR, WAVY.com, WHRO

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  1. WTKRYesterday

    Portsmouth voters reject sales tax referendum for school construction and renovations

    Portsmouth is one of six Hampton Roads localities where voters rejected a proposed 1% sales tax that would have generated millions for school construction and renovations.

  2. WAVY.comYesterday

    HRS: Lusso Gives Holiday Giving Tree

    Lusso Gives is accepting donations for its annual Holiday Giving Tree campaign, which helps brighten the holidays for children in Hampton Roads.

  3. WAVY.comNov. 3

    Hampton Roads localities vote ‘no’ to sales tax increase used to fund school construction

    PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — York County, Isle of Wight County and Mathews County all voted no to a local sales tax increase of 1% percent to be used to pay for new construction or major renovation of schools within each of those localities. These localities were able to add this as a referendum because of a recently passed state law.

  4. WAVY.comNov. 3

    Virginians vote ‘yes’ on all three constitutional amendments

    PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Virginians voted yes to all three constitutional amendments that were on the ballot this election season, according to The Associated Press. Voters answered yes to question one, which asked if the constitution of Virginia should be amended to protect personal decisions about reproductive rights. Gov. Abigail Spanberger released a statement about this outcome, stating: “Virginians made clear