1% sales tax for York schools could get public referendum in November
Plus, Williamsburg area hotels outpacing Hampton Roads in lead-up to 250th; W&M year in review posted
A referendum for a 1% sales tax to support school construction and maintenance could be put before York County voters in November, after the 2026 Virginia General Assembly passed legislation letting counties and cities statewide seek voter approval for the tax. That’s according to a recent memorandum submitted to the county’s Board of Supervisors by County Administrator Mark Bellamy, in which he requested a special meeting this month to move the issue on to voters.
A yes vote by county residents could generate around $15 million annually for school capital projects, according to Bellamy’s board communication. “I recommend that the Board consider this matter at a special meeting to preserve the opportunity for voters to decide the question during the November 2026 election,” he wrote.
York County Schools capital funding needs in the Fiscal Year 2027 Adopted Budget
$26,718,000
Fiscal Year 2027 funding slated to begin expansion and renovation at Bethel Manor Elementary, Queen’s Lake Middle, and Tabb High schools.
$30,577,275
Allocated in the FY2027 budget to the School Debt Service Fund.
$117,093,000
FY27–FY32 funding designated for school project in the county’s six-year Capital Improvements Program (out of $346,468,850 total).
Looming deadlines are driving the push for a special meeting, as state law requires the Circuit Court to issue an order by July 21, 2026 calling for the referendum, a deadline that must be met for the measure to appear on the November ballot. The Virginia Association of Counties advised counties statewide that these deadlines require action within days, suggesting York County isn’t alone in racing the clock. Because July 21 is both the Board’s next regular meeting and the court’s deadline, Bellamy recommended a special meeting on July 14 to vote on the referendum resolution with time to spare.
Bellamy’s push for the tax draws support from York County’s school facilities plan through FY2032, which lays out a substantial pipeline of facility needs. For example, the report explains that the division’s 18 school buildings average 55 years old, with no new elementary school built since 1990 and no new secondary school since 1996. Most sites can’t easily expand, and residential development, especially in the Bruton and York zones, is driving enrollment pressure that has already forced several attendance zone changes since FY09.
The master plan notes that deferred maintenance needs are currently funded through a patchwork of the operating budget, CIP allocations, and state appropriations. Bellamy pointed out that a dedicated tax would replace that ad hoc funding with predictable revenue, reducing the division’s reliance on debt to keep pace with the growing list of construction and maintenance needs identified in the plan.
Greater Williamsburg leads Virginia in weekday hotel occupancy growth ahead of America’s 250th. The region posted the highest weekday Occupancy growth of any submarket in Virginia this past week, heading into the lead-up to the 250th anniversary celebrations. Occupancy grew +20.4%, outpacing every other market in the state, and came with a double-digit RevPAR increase, according to data from the Virginia Tourism Council provided by Visit Williamsburg. “Seeing this kind of momentum as we head into the Fourth of July weekend is incredibly encouraging,” wrote Edward Harris, President & CEO of Visit Williamsburg, in an email. “It reflects months of planning, collaboration, and hard work by so many people across our community.”
Nationally, the numbers looked bigger this week, but the tourism council noted that was driven mostly by higher prices tied to the World Cup, not more rooms booked. “As we commemorate America’s 250th, expectations have never been higher, and I’m proud of how our Visit Williamsburg team and partners have risen to the occasion,” Harris added. “This is a historic moment for the Historic Triangle, and we’re ready to welcome visitors from around the country to experience where America’s journey began.”
William and Mary President Katherine A. Rowe shares W&M’s year in review: championships, swimming title, military-friendly rankings, and civic education efforts marking 333 years of civic leadership.
