Why It Matters
Virginia schools face a significant infrastructure backlog, with more than 1,000 public buildings at least 50 years old. A wave of November referendums across the state would authorize localities to impose a 1% sales tax increase to fund construction and renovations, signaling how pressing the need has become after years of legislative stalemate.
What Happened
More than 40 Virginia localities are placing referendums on November ballots seeking voter approval for a 1% sales tax increase dedicated to school construction and major repairs. The jurisdictions range from urban centers including Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News to smaller and rural communities.
The shift comes after a change in state law. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a state budget that included authorization for local sales tax referendums—a reversal from the previous administration. Former Governor Glenn Youngkin had repeatedly vetoed similar legislation. Nine Virginia localities had previously held access to this taxing mechanism; the new provision expands the option to dozens more.
The change addresses documented infrastructure crises across the state. Franklin County has pursued HVAC and boiler upgrades; Pulaski County is managing layout design safety issues and roof replacement; Newport News is dealing with broken pipes and failing air conditioning units.
By the Numbers
More than 40 — Virginia localities planning November sales tax referendums
1% — proposed sales tax increase in each jurisdiction
More than 1,000 — Virginia public schools at least 50 years old
$25 billion — estimated cost for new construction and major repairs (2021 General Assembly Commission on School Construction and Modernization)
$40 million — additional annual revenue Norfolk projects from its proposed tax
2046 — expiration date of Norfolk’s proposed tax increase
Zoom Out
School infrastructure funding has become a state-by-state challenge as aging facilities strain budgets and federal dollars prove insufficient. Similar tensions between public school maintenance and alternative educational options are playing out across Appalachia and other regions, forcing localities to seek voter approval for dedicated revenue streams rather than relying on appropriations from legislatures.
Virginia’s constitutional framework, known as the Dillon Rule, limits local governments’ authority to raise taxes without explicit General Assembly approval—a constraint that contributed to years of legislative gridlock before the current governor took office.
What’s Next
Virginia voters will decide the referendums on November 3. If approved, the localities would gain new revenue for school construction and renovations without requiring additional state legislative action. The outcomes will likely signal whether Virginia communities view the sales tax as a sustainable funding mechanism for infrastructure maintenance in an era of tight education budgets.