City of Charlottesville — Additional Local Sales Tax for School Capital Projects (Charlottesville City)

What it does

Shall the City of Charlottesville, Virginia be authorized to levy a local general retail sales tax at a rate not to exceed one percent (1%), the revenues of which shall be used solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of public schools serving the City of Charlottesville, and which shall expire on June 30, 2046?

A YES vote means

Charlottesville could levy an added local sales tax of up to 1%, used only for construction or renovation of public schools, expiring June 30, 2046.

A NO vote means

Charlottesville would not levy this added local sales tax for schools.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

In a July 21, 2026 letter to families, Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent Royal Gurley wrote that City Council had added the referendum to the November 3 ballot on Monday, July 20.

The division says the tax would raise an estimated $12 million a year for 20 years, solely for school construction and renovation. It says the tax would not apply to groceries, essential personal hygiene products or prescription medications, and would run from early 2027 until June 30, 2046.

The division lists priority projects including finishing a new early learning center on the Walker campus, Charlottesville High School, and Jackson-Via and Greenbrier elementary schools, which it says have no cafeterias.

Charlottesville Tomorrow reported that Charlottesville is one of 47 Virginia localities that have added this kind of referendum since the General Assembly authorized it.

Put on the ballot by Charlottesville City Council, July 20, 2026 (resolution to petition the Circuit Court; tally not confirmed from an official record).

From official source.

In the news

• Charlottesville adds 1% local sales tax referendum to the ballot to raise money for new preschool and high school renovations · Charlottesville Tomorrow

Next elections here

• Virginia election 2027 · November 2, 2027: All 100 House of Delegates seats and all 40 state Senate seats
• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Charlottesville mean?

Charlottesville could levy an added local sales tax of up to 1%, used only for construction or renovation of public schools, expiring June 30, 2046.

What does a NO vote on City of Charlottesville mean?

Charlottesville would not levy this added local sales tax for schools.

How many votes does City of Charlottesville need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Charlottesville?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.