Supervisors throw support behind 1% sales tax proposal

By MIKE WILLIAMS

Patriot Publishing

All five members of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors went on record Monday night throwing their support behind passage Tuesday of the 1 percent sales tax for school capital funding.

Voters in Pulaski County will make the final decision on Election Day. If the sales tax is approved, revenue raised will go toward the capital needs – construction and renovation – of local public schools.

Cloyd District Supervisor Chris Stafford opened the supervisors comments portion of Monday’s meeting by reading a statement on the sales tax issue.

“I speak to you tonight not only as an elected Supervisor, but as someone who served for 16 years as the Finance Director for Pulaski County Public Schools. Having managed school finances for nearly two decades, I have seen firsthand the financial realities our school system faces every single day,” Stafford said.
“Many citizens are surprised to learn that while the Commonwealth of Virginia provides approximately 60 percent or more of Pulaski County’s annual school operating budget, the state provides zero dedicated funding for school building maintenance, renovation, or construction.

“When it comes to maintaining and updating the physical facilities where our children learn, local governments and school systems are left to go it alone. Historically, because real estate taxes are by far the largest source of local revenue, any major capital improvement meant turning almost exclusively to real estate owners to foot the bill.”

Stafford continued that, “Fortunately, the Virginia General Assembly amended the Code of Virginia to give local communities a choice and a new tool. This referendum asks you, the voters, whether to approve a 1 percent local option sales tax dedicated specifically to school capital projects.”

Stafford offered three, what he called “key facts,” about the sales tax.

“Groceries are exempt,” he said.  “This tax does not apply to grocery purchases, ensuring it does not place an unfair burden on families buying everyday food items.”

Stafford said the tax broadens the tax base.

“Unlike real estate taxes, which fall entirely on property owners, a sales tax spreads the responsibility across everyone who shops in Pulaski County — including visitors, commuters, and tourists.

He also noted that, “by state law, every single dollar generated under this statute is legally restricted and can only be used for school capital improvements. If any county leader—elected or appointed — attempted to spend these funds on anything else, they would be in direct violation of state law,” Stafford said.

“Finally, we must look at where Pulaski County stands relative to our region. Our neighbors in Giles County, Radford and Wythe County all have this same referendum on their ballots, and support is widespread. In fact, in Wythe County, the local Democratic and Republican committees came together to issue a joint resolution of support — a powerful statement that investing in our schools transcends party politics.

“If our neighboring localities pass this referendum and Pulaski County rejects it, we risk falling further behind in our ability to provide modern, safe and adequate educational facilities for our children and grandchildren,” Stafford added.

Stafford said that voting “Yes” on this referendum provides a dedicated, protected stream of funding to fix and maintain our school buildings without placing the entire burden back onto our real estate taxpayers.

“I strongly encourage our citizens to consider these facts when casting their ballots.”

Following Stafford’s statement, each supervisor used at least a port of their comment time to add their support as well.

Robinson District Supervisor Jeff Reeves said he couldn’t think of a more “equitable” tax than a sales tax.”

Draper District Supervisor Dirk Compton said the sales tax is an opportunity to take some of the burden off real estate owners.

He also sees the sales tax as a way for the county to bring back some of the money spent by emergency services on the interstate.

Massie District Supervisor Mike Mooney spoke of the future need for remodeling Pulaski County High School and how the sales tax guarantees funding for 20 years for that and other projects.

He said out-of-towners will come to the Sportsplex for sports tournaments and their spending for food and hotel rooms will go toward the tax.

“I just hope people will keep that in mind – that everyone will be paying and not just real estate owners and personal property payers,” Mooney said.

Ingles District Supervisor and board chairman Laura Walters said she would echo her fellow board members’ comments on the sales tax.

“It’s guaranteed for 20 years,” she said, adding the capital improvement plan followed now to pay for renovations has worked well, however, “it’s not enough.”

She said the tax would keep the county from having to build a new high school. “We’ll be able to update and remodel,” Walters said.