Richmond Voters Approve School Sales Tax; Mayor Unveils Offsetting Cuts: Sales Tax to 7%, Meals Tax to 6.5%

Richmond voters approved on November 3, by nearly 68%, a one-percentage-point sales tax increase dedicated to public school construction, and Mayor Danny Avula announced an accompanying tax-relief plan on November 5. The mayor said he will work with City Council leadership to introduce legislation raising the sales tax from 6% to 7% while lowering the meals tax from 7.5% to 6.5%, and will propose in next year's budget cutting the real estate tax rate from $1.20 to $1.19 per $100 of assessed value to ease the burden on residents. The increase does not take effect automatically; the Council must still vote to enact it, and under state law the city must wait at least 120 days after that vote before collecting the higher tax.

The tax is expected to raise about $50 million a year for schools, and the city plans to borrow against the revenue by issuing bonds. Statewide, 47 Virginia localities put similar school sales tax referendums on the ballot this year and 32 rejected them; Richmond approved by a wide margin. A competing council proposal for a larger four-cent real estate tax cut has been pushed to March 2027.

(Source: The Richmonder)

Source: The Richmonder

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：弗吉尼亚州里士满市。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Richmond, Virginia. Source: Wikimedia Commons.