CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will consider a ballot referendum to add a 1% sales tax raise to November’s ballot during Wednesday’s meeting, according to the published agenda, funds that would be used to pay for school capital improvement projects. The board is also scheduled to consider a proposal to create an employer-assisted housing program for county employees.   

The biennial budget the Virginia General Assembly passed and Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed last month gave municipalities the option of asking voters to raise the sales tax rate to support projects including school renovations and new school construction. The funds can also be used to pay off existing debt from qualifying projects.

The Board had previously discussed a proposal for the employer-assisted housing program, designed to combat affordability issues for county employees, during its June 18 meeting.   

The board has made some tweaks to that plan, including using $840,000 of the Affordable Housing Investment Fund to provide down payment assistance to county employees, provided those employees have a household income 80% below the area median income, as well as one-time rental assistance for those with household income 60% below area median income. 

There have been two new provisions added to the ordinance since the last proposal.   

First, data on barriers to implementation and program participation will be given to the board on an annual basis at a minimum. 

Second, a team featuring representatives of the Office of Housing, the County’s Attorney’s Office, Human Resources, and Department of Finance & Budget will be formed to review applications for assistance. 

Following the consideration of these two resolutions, there will be a public hearing about the county giving the Virginia Department of Transportation to construct a continuous green-T intersection at Rio Road East and Belvedere Boulevard, adjacent to Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center.  Afterward, there will be a public hearing on a proposed update to the County zoning code regarding its processes of issuing certificates of appropriateness, as well as defining the types and tightening the definition of such a certificate. 

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m.