Virginia schools push for local tax option as aging buildings strain rural divisions

Storms in Virginia’s Tidewater region threaten Mathews County Public Schools’ aging environmental systems, risking closure of classrooms and safety hazards for students. In one incident, moisture overwhelmed an elementary school’s HVAC, leaving water on the floors and prompting a three-day closure. Superintendent David Daniel says the infrastructure is decades behind schedule. The district and other localities hope to change that if lawmakers approve changes allowing all localities to generate revenue for school construction through a referendum on a local 1% sales tax. Currently, only nine localities can levy such a tax; others have faced vetoes and veto-related debates, despite a 2021 survey showing many Virginia schools are over 50 years old with billions in replacement costs.