Ballot question
Sampson County Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum
- On the ballot in
- Sampson County
- Vote
- Yes or no
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
The question, as printed on the ballot
Local sales and use tax at the rate of one-half percent (0.5%) in addition to the current local sales and use taxes, to be used only for public education.
A “Yes” vote means
Allows Sampson County commissioners to levy an extra one-half percent (0.5%) sales and use tax, raising the total rate from 7% to 7.5%, with the money restricted to public education.
A “No” vote means
The county cannot levy the extra one-half percent sales and use tax; the total sales tax rate in Sampson County stays at 7%.
The General Assembly authorized this tax for Sampson County in the 2026 budget act. Commissioners adopted the resolution unanimously on Aug. 3, 2026, saying they would put the money first toward the county's school building debt; the county's page says it could also pay school operating costs. If approved, the county expects about $4 million a year starting July 1, 2027, and commissioners must still vote to levy it.
Sources
- Referendum Choices List Grouped by Referendum, all counties (November 3, 2026) · North Carolina State Board of Elections
- Proposed sales tax hike will be on November ballot · The Sampson Independent
- Commissioners urge yes vote for sales tax · The Sampson Independent
- Sales Tax Referendum 2026 · Sampson County
- Resolution of the Sampson County Board of Commissioners directing the County Board of Elections to conduct an advisory referendum whether to levy an additional one-half cent county sales and use tax (adopted Aug. 3, 2026) · Sampson County Board of Commissioners
The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.