FREDERICK COUNTY, VA Frederick County Government and Frederick County Public Schools will co-host three town hall meetings to provide residents with information about an upcoming local sales tax referendum that will appear on the ballot during the November general election, including the early voting period.

 

Virginia law allows local jurisdictions to seek voter authorization for an additional local retail sales tax of up to 1% to provide funding that can only be used for the construction or major renovation of public schools. The additional local sales tax is the first and only local school funding tool authorized by the Virginia General Assembly. Previously authorized in select localities, the funding tool was expanded statewide as part of the 2027-2028 Commonwealth of Virginia budget bill.

 

Frederick County residents will vote on the referendum on November 3 and during the early voting period. The town hall meetings will provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the proposed funding tool, ask questions, and review the school division’s long-term Capital Improvements Plan (CIP).

 

The question that will appear on the ballot is:

SHALL FREDERICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA, BE ALLOWED TO ENACT A LOCAL RETAIL SALES TAX OF UP TO ONE PERCENT (1%) TO PROVIDE FUNDS THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OR MAJOR RENOVATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN FREDERICK COUNTY FOR A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS?

 

If approved by voters, the Board of Supervisors may then enact the new school funding tax. The tax would go into effect 120 days after enactment.

 

If enacted, the additional sales tax of up to 1% would apply to taxable retail purchases, including items such as clothing, footwear, electronics, and restaurant meals. Essential items such as groceries and personal hygiene products would be excluded from the additional sales tax. Sales tax revenue would be generated not only from Frederick County residents, but also from visitors who shop, dine and otherwise make taxable purchases in the County.

 

Revenue generated from the proposed tax would be legally restricted to qualifying school construction, major structural renovations, or debt service associated with those projects. Funds cannot be used to pay off existing school construction debt, and the tax would expire after twenty years. 

Frederick County residents are invited to attend any of the following sessions:

In addition to the town hall meetings, Frederick County Public Schools will host tours of Apple Pie Ridge Elementary School and Bass-Hoover Elementary School. These schools are among the facilities that could benefit from sales tax revenues if the referendum is approved and the tax is subsequently enacted.

 

The tours will provide residents with an opportunity to see the schools and learn more about their facility needs.

More information about current projects and the FCPS Capital Improvements Plan is available on the Frederick County Public Schools website. Information on the referendum is available on the Frederick County website in the Information Hub.