YORK COUNTY, Va. York County voters will decide this November whether the County should have the authority to add up to a 1% local sales tax to help pay for public school construction and major renovations.
If the full 1% is eventually approved by the Board of Supervisors, York County estimates it would generate about $12 million a year.
But there is an important part of this that residents should understand. Passing the referendum would give York County another source of money for school projects. It does not guarantee that real estate taxes will be lowered, frozen or prevented from increasing in the future.
What Are Voters Actually Deciding?
The referendum will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Voters are being asked whether York County should be allowed to add a local retail sales tax of up to 1%. Money collected from the tax would be restricted to public school construction and renovation projects.
Voting yes would not immediately add 1% to the sales tax.
Instead, approval would give the York County Board of Supervisors the authority to consider an ordinance imposing the tax. According to the County, that could happen as early as 2027.
If voters reject the referendum, the additional sales tax cannot be implemented.
Where Would the Money Go?
State law limits what the money can be used for. Eligible expenses include new school construction, major school renovations and financing costs associated with those projects.
The money could not be used for teacher salaries, normal school operating expenses or general County operations.
York County's current six-year Capital Improvement Program includes approximately $117 million in school capital projects, with additional facility needs expected in the future.
What About Groceries?
Food purchased for home consumption and essential personal hygiene products would be exempt from the additional tax, according to York County.
Other taxable retail purchases made in York County could be subject to the additional tax if the Board ultimately adopts it.
That also means the tax would not only be paid by York County residents. Visitors who make taxable purchases in the County would pay it as well.
Does This Mean Real Estate Taxes Won't Go Up?
This is probably one of the biggest questions for property owners.
The short answer is no. Passing the referendum does not guarantee that York County's real estate tax rate will not increase in the future.
The proposed sales tax and the County's real estate tax are two separate sources of revenue.
York County's current real estate tax rate is $0.78 per $100 of assessed value. The Board of Supervisors sets that rate as part of the County's budget process.
There is nothing in the referendum that freezes that rate or requires it to be lowered if the sales tax is approved.
The opposite is also worth pointing out. Voting against the referendum does not automatically mean the real estate tax rate will increase.
If the referendum fails, York County would still have to decide how to pay for future school projects through its normal budget process. That could involve existing revenue, borrowing, changing when projects are completed or other funding decisions.
Why Are Real Estate Taxes Part of the Discussion?
Building and renovating schools is expensive, and those projects are often financed through long-term bonds.
York County says those bonds are repaid using local revenues, including money collected through real estate taxes, personal property taxes and other sources.
The proposed sales tax would create another pot of money specifically for qualifying school projects.
What it does not do is take away the Board of Supervisors' ability to make decisions about the real estate tax rate in future budgets.
Property Assessments Have Already Increased
The referendum also comes during a year when many York County property owners have seen higher assessments.
Countywide real property assessments increased approximately 11.51% compared with the previous assessment period. York County says about 9.78% came from reassessment growth and another 1.73% came from new construction.
That does not mean every property increased by the same amount.
For 2026, the Board kept the real estate tax rate at $0.78 per $100 of assessed value.
How Long Would the Sales Tax Last?
The additional sales tax would not be permanent.
It would expire after 20 years or when the debt connected to qualifying school construction and renovation projects is paid off.
Under the ballot language, the tax would have to end no later than July 21, 2046.
What Happens Next?
York County and the York County School Division are holding several public forums before the election.
Meetings are scheduled for September 24 at Queens Lake Middle School, September 29 at Tabb High School and October 5 at York High School.
One question residents may want answered is how the projected $12 million a year in new sales tax revenue would affect future borrowing and the amount of existing County revenue being used for school construction.
Another is whether County leaders expect the additional revenue to have any effect on future real estate tax decisions, even though the referendum itself does not require the County to lower or freeze the real estate tax rate.
York County voters will make the final decision on the referendum on November 3, 2026.
Sources: York County School Capital Funding Referendum information and York County tax and budget information.