On January 24, by a vote of 28-12, the Senate of Virginia voted to report SB 472 (McClellan). VACo strongly supports the measure, which would permit any county or city to impose an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1 percent, if initiated by a resolution of the local governing body and approved by voters at a local referendum. As previously reported, the revenues of such a local tax would be used solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools. Any tax imposed shall expire when the costs for capital projects are to be repaid and shall not be more than 20 years after the date of the resolution passed. Currently, this authority is limited to the qualifying localities of Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville.
The Senate also voted to advance by nearly similar votes, SB 37 (Norment) and SB 298 (Deeds), which would expand this authority to Isle of Wight County and the City of Charlottesville respectively and are also supported by VACo.
SB 472 now moves to the House. VACo strongly encourages you to contact your House Delegation Members and urge them to support SB 472.
Yet to be heard in the House are two pieces of legislation identical to SB 472. HB 531 (Hudson) has been assigned to the House Finance Committee’s Subcommittee #3, while HB 1099 (LaRock) has been assigned to the full committee. VACo strongly supports these bills and requests that you to contact members of the House Finance Committee’s Subcommittee #3.
House Finance Committee’s Subcommittee #3:
Byron (Chair), Orrock, Freitas, Robinson, Runion, Murphy, Hudson, Scott, D.L.
Delegate Hudson also filed HB 545, which is the House companion for SB 298 (Deeds). Additionally, Delegate Edmunds introduced HB 63, which grants this taxing authority to Prince Edward County. VACo also supports these bills.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett