The City of Fairfax School Board approved a resolution supporting a referendum for a 1% local option sales and use tax in the City of Fairfax during its July 1, 2026, meeting.
The resolution follows action by the Commonwealth of Virginia allowing jurisdictions, including the City of Fairfax, to ask voters whether to approve a local option sales and use tax to support eligible capital projects. In the City of Fairfax, the School Board is responsible for major capital improvements to school buildings, including construction, renovation, modernization and long-term maintenance.
The resolution states the board’s support for pursuing the 1% local option sales and use tax as a way to help finance school capital projects serving the City of Fairfax. It also notes that revenue from the tax could help reduce reliance on other local revenue sources and provide an additional tool to support long-term school infrastructure needs.
The board’s resolution requests that the Fairfax City Council take the necessary steps to initiate a referendum on the question of levying a 1% local option sales and use tax, consistent with authority granted by the Commonwealth of Virginia and applicable state law. Any local option sales and use tax would require voter approval by referendum before it could be levied.
The resolution also emphasizes continued collaboration among the School Board, City Council, city staff and the community to ensure transparency regarding the planned use of revenues, the school capital projects to be supported and the long-term fiscal benefits to the city.
The estimated fiscal impact of the 1% local option sales and use tax is projected to be between $12 million and $14 million per year.