Sal Orlando, News Editor
Skye Hathaway, Copy Editor
Richmond citizens voted yesterday on a 1% sales tax increase to go toward repairs and construction for Richmond Public Schools.
Richmond’s previous sales tax was 6% and will now increase to 7%, affecting the final price of purchases on clothing, electronics and other retail items, according to the Richmond Department of Finance. Groceries are taxed at 1% and will not be affected by the increase.
Brady Kastner, a third-year theatre student, said he went to the polls because he believes it is everyone’s civic duty to vote. He said he hopes that the results would go in favor of the tax increase.
“I believe really strongly in the funding of education,” Kastner said. “I hope it goes in favor of that because recent changes in government have not been very good for that.”
Mayor Danny Avula stated in a press release that the city is expected to raise up to $47.5 million per year for school projects, totaling to $400 million between 2028 and 2034. He stated that he would introduce legislation to lower the city’s meal tax from 7.5 to 6.5% if voters approved the sales tax increase.
RPS did not have a master facilities plan in place before the vote, meaning voters did not have a clear idea on exactly what the funds generated from the tax would go toward, according to the Richmonder.
Across the state, citizens in 47 localities voted on a similar ballot measure, according to ABC8 News. Two of Richmond’s surrounding counties, Chesterfield and Powhatan, rejected the sales tax increase.
Sarah Sobon, a teacher at Chesterfield County Public Schools, said that while construction is important, it does not address the literacy crisis in elementary schools.
“I understand we can get all excited about fancy new things and objects, but at the core of it, I’m wondering where that other 1% is going to go to support kids who really really need it in the elementary schools in the foundations of their phonics learning,” Sobon said.
Sobon said she feels that raising teachers’ salaries should be an incentive for the sales tax increase, especially in areas where classrooms are crowded and teachers are stretched thin.
“I mean, I’ve been teaching for 26 years and have a master’s degree and I still have trouble making ends meet, right?” Sobon said. “So, I can’t really give any more money.”
Executive Editor Maeve Bauer helped contribute to this article.