RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Help could be on the way for schools across Virginia, because on Jan. 23, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee advanced a proposal designed to dedicate more money toward school infrastructure.
The bill , authored by State Senator Jeremy McPike (D-Prince William), would allow all localities in Virginia to charge an additional 1% sales tax to fund school construction and renovation, but only if voters of that locality approve the increase through a referendum.
“This will give the local citizens the opportunity to choose whether they want to increase the local sales tax so they can improve schools for kids in their community,” explained Washington County School Superintendent Keith Perrigan, who also represents 81 school districts as President of The Coalition of Small and Rural Schools of Virginia.
Currently, only nine municipalities have approval from the Virginia General Assembly to charge such a tax.
Perrigan said many localities can’t afford the cost of renovating their existing schools or building new ones.