FY 2021 School Referendum: will be on the ballot on November 3. The referendum proposes a one percent increase in sales tax. We are urging you to vote Yes for Northampton Schools on election day. The tax will fund the planned renovations to the high school and the creation of a middle school with a one percent increase in sales tax.
Revenues raised with this sales tax can be used only for school construction and renovation. The tax will not apply to items such as medicines, groceries and farm equipment.
A committee has already been established to assure that schools are kept up so that they will remain in good condition going forward.
Approximately 1.4 million dollars per year will be raised with this one percent increase and 45% of that will be paid by those visiting our County.
An alternative would be an increase in property tax for all County property owners.
Before Covid, most of us would be in favor. But now, is the timing for this tax appropriate?
Online learning providers are seeing a boom in enrollment as parents seek an alternative to chaotic remote school experiences this spring.
A new survey estimates that Virginia’s public schools are down 36,000 students which could result in a loss of nearly $160 million. We are seeing a large decrease here in Northampton. More than 60% have opted for online education.
In Northampton, enrollment is down, and over 60% of students are online, with the remainder doing some sort of “hybrid” mix. The school Superintendent has even stated that kids have only come to school once, hardly a ringing endorsement.
The coronavirus has fundamentally altered the nature of public schools. Before throwing millions of dollars at it, it may be fiscally prudent to see where we are one or two years from now first.
It is easy to increase taxes but very difficult to role them back. Why are we pushing this tax now? More money for schools that aren’t even functioning. Maybe we should study this for a few more years before jumping into another boondoggle!
You better check with those black community leaders. LOL!
My whole life we have been throwing more and more money at our public education systems and getting less “education” in regressively equal proportion. I blame most of this on the courts and the state board of education. But the teaching profession has not been of much help. The profession is trying to redefine what constitutes educated person. This redefinition would appear to wrong based on what we are seeing and hearing on the streets of our cities. It is okay for teacher’s unions to represent teachers, but we the public are foolish to think that quality education is anywhere near their primary goal. It is not even a leading byproduct.
What an inane argument to suggest that our “visitors” pay 45 percent of the taxes raised. Why exempt farm equipment? Does this new tax include cars? (If I wanted to open used car lot in the county).
Instead of me voting your money (or you vote mine) I would prefer that we attach the money to the students and not to the institutions (like the Va education benefit). The people vote with their dollars, the ultimate democracy.
A tax that will go away????!
“C’on guy”, we are not all that stupid.
OR, maybe we are!!!
Let’s see, if we inflate the bureaucracy a bit more with a building committee to do the Superintendent’s staff’s job, we can buy our way to better education with a structure!! That would perfectly match the thought process of those who think they can buy their way to success using others peoples money- a definition of Northampton County?
Ignorance is Bliss….in a Land of Fools.
I hope people vote “YES” on the school referendum because, first of all, COVID won’t last forever and kids WILL be going back to school!!
Secondly, the middle and high school really need these updates to the buildings! When our grandson attended there two years ago, we saw first-hand a lot of needed work to be done!
Lastly, with the way this referendum is laid out, the burden won’t be all on Northampton residents, but shared by our happy tourists! They won’t even notice an added 1% sales tax!
Please consider these points when casting your ballot. Thank you.
I’ve said this already
Be careful o opening the tax door for schools. Iv lived through that on Long Island . It hasn’t stopped yet creating the highest property taxes . 61% of property tax goes to the schools, and that has not changed the level of education received.
But this is a sales tax, not a property tax. (I know a property tax increase *could* be an option, but that’s all the more reason to vote “yes” on the sales tax!)
I am curious as to how many of the naysayers have kids in school here….
Please vote YES! our children deserve a Safe school the building is in dire need with a wall that visually has a lean! Also, It is true a new building does not mean a better education but, I think a nice space to learn is a must! This will be a positive environment and statistics prove people thrive and do better in a better environment! I think the students and staff are deserving! The pandemic will end and the kids will return to school! Parents have to get back out there and work not from home while trying to home school or be available for their kids to virtual learn! Back to the real world!
Wow! That sounds like a Liberal Fairy Tale. No question whose side you will be on when the time comes…and it is coming, ready or not.