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.
“Across the Commonwealth, we have schools that have asbestos issues, mold and mildew issues, no AC, they need doors and windows replaced, roofs replaced,” Perrigan told 8News.
Perrigan added that the bill is designed to ensure all students have access to a quality education regardless of their zip code.
“We have school divisions across the commonwealth who have 21st-century learning opportunities for their students and we have way more school divisions across the commonwealth who can’t provide that currently for their students,” Perrigan said. “This really levels the playing field for high poverty school divisions, whether they are rural or urban.”
The bill passed with all Democrats voting in favor along with Republican Senator Todd Pillion (R-Washington). Four Republicans opposed the bill.
