ElectionTop story
Norfolk and Portsmouth voters turn down a 1% sales tax for school construction
Voters in 29 localities rejected the school sales tax, and 14 approved it
Source: Cardinal News
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Rejected as of 11:15 p.m. | 29 |
| Approved as of 11:15 p.m. | 14 |
If you voted Tuesday, you weighed in on a 1% sales tax for school construction, one of 47 such questions across Virginia. Norfolk is among the localities where it failed, and Portsmouth voters rejected it with 61% against. In Norfolk, 54.7% had voted no with 69% reporting as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
- Also rejected: Isle of Wight, Mathews, York and Newport News
- Portsmouth's top priority: new K-8 school, $85 million
- Third on Portsmouth's list: new Churchland Middle School, $80 million
- Martinsville: projected to pass by five votes
Portsmouth Public Schools said it will keep presenting its construction and renovation priorities to City Council during budget planning. In York County, officials said the county would not have the authority to implement its proposed tax.
Portsmouth's tax would have raised millions for schools
- 61%
- of Portsmouth voters rejected the 1% sales tax
- $10 million
- a year the tax was expected to raise in Portsmouth
- $200 million
- over the maximum 20 years
- $12 million
- a year York's tax was expected to raise
Source: WTKR
“The financial burden of meeting the division's construction needs now falls entirely on city leadership.”
Lauren Nolasco, Portsmouth Public Schools spokesperson
