Laserfiche WebLink
R-26-17 <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, <br />VIRGINIA INITIATING A REFERENDUM PURSUANT TO SECTION 58.1-605.1 <br />OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, AS AMENDED BY THE 2026 BIENNIAL <br />BUDGET OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, TO AUTHORIZE <br />IMPOSITION OF AN ADDITIONAL LOCAL GENERAL RETAIL SALES TAX <br />NOT TO EXCEED 1%, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WOULD BE USED TO <br />PROVIDE REVENUE SOLELY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE <br />CONSTRUCTION OR MAJOR RENOVATION OF SCHOOLS SERVING THE <br />CITY OF PORTSMOUTH. <br />WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2026, the Virginia General Assembly has enacted its <br />biennial budget and appropriation legislation, enrolled as Chapter 1 of the 2026 Acts of <br />Assembly, Special Session I (the "Budget Bill") for the biennium commencing July 1, <br />2026, and ending June 30, 2028; and <br />WHEREAS, the Budget Bill made certain amendments to Section 58.1-605.1 of <br />the Code of Virginia authorizing counties and cities to commence a referendum process <br />regarding whether to levy an additional general retail sales tax at a rate not to exceed one <br />percent (1 %); and <br />WHEREAS, if the referendum is approved by the voters, the revenue from said <br />tax can be used solely for capital projects for the construction or major renovation of <br />schools; and <br />WHEREAS, the referendum must be held in accordance with Section 24.2-684 of <br />the Code of Virginia and initiated by resolution of the City Council; and <br />WHEREAS, on July 22, 2026 the Portsmouth School Board adopted a resolution <br />urging City Council to adopt a resolution to initiate the referendum process, stating that <br />"Portsmouth Public Schools has significant and documented capital improvement needs <br />that have not been adequately addressed through existing local revenue sources alone" and <br />that "capital improvement projects... are essential to meeting the needs of Portsmouth's <br />student population and addressing long-standing deferred maintenance"; <br />WHEREAS, at the request of the School Board, the City Council hereby initiates <br />a referendum for the purposes set forth herein. <br />NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of <br />Portsmouth, Virginia: <br />1. That it hereby requests that the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth <br />order a referendum pursuant to Sections 24.2-682 and 58.1-605.1 of the Code of Virginia, <br />as amended by the Budget Bill, on the issue of whether the City of Portsmouth may levy <br />