Frequently Asked Questions

For years, local leaders and families fought for the required state permission to put a 1% sales tax referendum on the ballot to help support public school facilities. This year, Virginia law finally opened that door for all localities. Recognizing this opportunity, the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors voted 7–1 to place the question directly in front of county voters this November.

Yes. While other counties and cities across Virginia are holding similar referendums, our vote is strictly local. Every single dollar raised stays in Prince Edward County to support our local public schools. Not a penny would go anywhere else in the state.

By state law, funds can only be spent on local public school construction and renovations. The revenue will help fix aging middle and high school facilities. Whether or not the referendum passes, we won't be able to avoid much of the essential repair work in the years ahead. The question is how we will pay for it. By tapping into this additional source, we can reduce pressure on other sources such as the property tax rates on county businesses and residents, as well as other parts of the school budget that support things like teacher salaries. It could also help the county reduce what it needs to borrow—helping not just today's kids but our grandkids too.

No. A small number of "prepared food" items (like pre-made dishes) that are sold in grocery stores would be covered—but otherwise groceries are exempt, as are personal hygiene items. So are gasoline and heating oil. The tax would apply to standard retail sales.

While our elementary school is getting a much-needed upgrade, our middle and high schools are over 50 years old and have a long list of deficiencies that need to be addressed. After decades of daily use by thousands of students, even the best-maintained schools need care. Ours have leaking roofs, failing heating/cooling systems and outdated spaces. Our teachers will tell you this sends a message to our kids about the importance of education and our community's support for it, making their job harder. Passing this referendum allows out-of-town shoppers to help pay for these essential repairs so the full bill doesn't land on local property owners.

This referendum actually protects funding for teachers! When sales tax revenue covers major building repairs, other funds are freed up to help recruit, pay and retain great teachers, coaches and staff. Think of it like a neighborhood association offering to pay for part of your roof repair—sure, you are paying for part of it, but that help frees up your home budget for everything else. Plus, investing in school buildings is a way to support teachers. They have enough challenges without having to worry about leaking roofs, temperature fluctuations and buildings that fail to show our kids what they're doing really matters. Providing teachers with adequate spaces helps them do their job—and helps us show them their work matters.

Strong public schools build a strong local economy and are essential for our long-term future. When young families, healthcare workers, teachers, business owners and entrepreneurs are deciding whether to move to Prince Edward or to stay here, schools are the first thing they look at. Investing in the people and buildings that make for strong public schools helps us grow our local tax base, keep property values strong and keep local property taxes low for everyone.

Yes! Nearby counties like Charlotte and Halifax have already passed this exact measure to build and renovate modern schools. In Pittsylvania County, a similar 1% sales tax generates roughly $3.8 million annually for school improvements. It is a proven, battle-tested tool that voters have supported across Southside Virginia.For a report from one locality where voters passed the referendum on how it's worked out, check out this news report.

Local business leaders across Prince Edward are supporting this measure because good schools drive economic growth. Prince Edward currently has some of the lowest property tax rates in the state—lower than Amelia, Nottoway, Cumberland, Buckingham and Charlotte, and substantially lower than Powhatan or Chesterfield. Using a modest sales tax will help us keep local property taxes low while improving the community assets that make Prince Edward a great place to live and visit.

Absolutely. Under Superintendent Dr. Chip Jones, our schools are seeing real momentum. Enrollment is up and teacher recruitment has enjoyed one of its strongest years in recent memory. Recently, the Virginia Department of Education officially released Prince Edward County Public Schools from state oversight—a massive vote of confidence in the division's leadership and progress. Investing in our school facilities gives this strong leadership team the tools they need to keep moving forward.

In 2000, a statewide voter referendum directed that lottery proceeds would go to schools, and they did—but it helps pay for teachers and classrooms. What it has never done is pay for buildings themselves. So yes, the Virginia Lottery is an ultimate source of a significant portion of the state funding that is important for paying our teachers and keeps our schools running. It targets instructional funding. But it was never directed or allowed to build or fix schools. The state does provide some other support for school buildings, but it is intermittent. Virginia covers roughly 10 percent of school construction costs, compared to a national average near 22 percent. The rest falls on localities. That's the gap this referendum tries to fill—and to do so by shifting some of the burden from county residents, and on to out-of-town shoppers who come here.The proceeds that this referendum would generate can only be used on school facilities here in Prince Edward. Of course, that would take pressure away from having to find those funds elsewhere in the school or county budget, or through higher real estate taxes.