CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Voters in both Albemarle County and Charlottesville backed an up-to-1% sales tax raise to fund capital improvements for those localities’ public schools in Tuesday’s election. By supporting the referendum, they empowered the Albemarle Board of Supervisors and Charlottesville City Council to vote on moving forward with the tax hike.

“It’s critical, especially for new construction for our schools,” Del. Amy Laufer told Cville Right Now. “And we know Albemarle County really values our school division and I think that shows in this vote.”

Democrats in Richmond passed state legislation on July 1 to allow localities to put the referendum before voters.  The funding would be able to be used for public school capital projects such as renovations and construction of new school buildings.

“We have lots of investments that are needed across all of our districts in Albemarle County,” Albemarle School Board Chair Dr. Rebecca Berlin told Cville Right Now. “I think this will help us make this investment now and for the next 20 years.”

As of 10:45 p.m., the yes votes held a lead of just over 4,000 votes in the county. In the city, the yes votes had a commanding lead of over 8,000 votes. Now, it’s up to the Board of Supervisors and City Council to move forward with the sales tax.

“We’ve been waiting for so long for a real investment in our schools. I think that this is important because the children of Albemarle County can’t wait any longer,” Albemarle Education Association President Mary McIntyre told Cville Right Now. “And this is a real commitment from the voters that they recognize that this is a need and they’re ready to make it a priority. I’m thankful that the Board of Supervisors was willing to put it on the ballot and I’m thankful to the voters for supporting this. And I’m looking forward to seeing what impact it will have on updating and modernizing the schools of Albemarle County.”

But McIntyre said it’s important that the Board not view the funds, which would come to the county in May 2027, as money to replace county support.

“I would certainly hope that since they voted to put it on the ballot, that now they would also support it and move forward with it,” McIntyre said. “I would also hope that they are not just going to supplant those funds and then lower the amount of the money they’re going to give to us. I want to make sure this is additional money for the schools and not that they’re going to view it as freeing up funds that they can then use for other things.”