1% Sales Tax Increase

Voters passed a new sales tax to fund Pittsylvania County School’s renovations.

The new tax barely passed with only about 51% of voters saying yes to the new tax. The county is nearly divided on this issue.

Last year, the tax fell through by only 14 votes. In response to the close margin, the Vote Yes to PCS campaign swung into action and distributed over 500 signs in yards, flyers being handed out at games, and informational packets in the front office.

“Over the next few years, the learning environment will greatly improve for our elementary school students,” said Martha Walker, a chair of the Pittsylvanians for a Brighter Future, “They will not have air conditioners running in a trailer. They won’t have to go outside to go to the gym anymore. All of that facility will be connected.”

Thirty percent of the elementary schools have classrooms that are only accessible from the outside, meaning children must walk around the outside of the building just to enter their class.

Some mail-in ballots are still yet to be counted, meaning the tax vote could still be in jeopardy. Finalization of votes should come for Virginia on Monday.