York approves sales tax referendum, James City not moving forward yet

It's July 22. York Supervisors approve a November referendum on raising the sales tax for school construction. Local home sales and prices rise again. 73-year-old found dead on Rt. 60.

York Superintendent James Carroll tells supervisors average school is 55 years old (Williamsburg Watch photo)

York Supervisors approved a November referendum asking voters if they want to pay up to an extra penny in sales tax to repair and replace the county’s aging school buildings.

James City County will not move in the same direction this year, according to County Administrator Scott Stevens.

York Administrator Mark L. Bellamy, Jr. told supervisors at their Tuesday night meeting that the extra penny in sales tax would generate about $12 million a year dedicated solely to school construction and school repairs in York County.

School Superintendent James Carroll told the board York’s 18 schools are an average of 55 years old, and three of them are 72 years old -- at the edge of the generally accepted lifespan of 75 years for school buildings.

Carroll said the school board is awaiting a facilities review from a consulting firm and is anticipating they will recommend replacing some buildings.

School projects will account for 41% of all county capital spending over the next six years, Bellamy said, and the county is looking at other projects, including several fire stations and a new courthouse. By adding the sales tax, more money will be freed up to fund those projects, Bellamy said.

He said the revenue from the extra penny in sales tax is the equivalent of 9 cents in additional real estate taxes. But unlike real estate, tourists pay 25-30% of sales taxes, so they would be helping pay for the schools, Bellamy said.

District 4 Supervisor G. Stephen Roane, Jr. protested the supervisors were moving too quickly to approve a referendum before studying other ways of raising the money to fix the schools.

Roane also said raising the sales tax to 8% would give York the area’s highest sales tax, and consumers might decide to shop elsewhere, so the revenue may be lower than Bellamy anticipated.

In the end, the supervisors voted 4-1 to approve the referendum, with Roane the sole dissenting vote.

“This board, by approving this referendum, is not taking sides” on the tax, District 2 supervisor Sheila Noll said. She said the voters will decide if they want to pay more to fund the schools.

Vice Chair Thomas G. Shepperd Jr. said voters tell him schools are the reason they moved to York County, and “one way or another, we’re going to have to pay for this stuff.”

York County was able to vote on a referendum because the recently concluded General Assembly session passed a law allowing local governments to add up to a penny on local sales taxes for school projects, but only if voters approve it in a referendum.

“I don’t see James City County doing a school referendum this year,” Stevens told Williamsburg Watch . He said the county might consider it as a funding option in the future if there is a large school project to pay for.