City of Fairfax: Local retail sales tax of up to 1% for school construction and public transportation

Official plain English statement

This ballot question asks whether voters want to give the City of Fairfax the authority to add up to a 1% local retail sales tax. Approval of the ballot question does not automatically impose the tax. Instead, it gives the City Council the legal authority to determine whether to adopt the tax and, if so, at what rate (up to 1%). If the tax is adopted, all revenue generated must be used only for specific capital purposes. Such revenue cannot be used for the City's day-to-day operating expenses, employee salaries, or other general government services. State law limits the use of the tax revenue to fund: Capital projects for schools, including constructing new schools, renovating existing schools, and paying the costs of bonds or loans used to finance those projects; Public transportation projects that serve the City, including the costs of bonds or loans used to finance those projects; or A combination of both school capital projects and public transportation projects. The ballot question does not identify specific projects or determine how the revenue would be divided between schools and transportation. Those decisions would be made by the City Council if the referendum is approved and the tax is later adopted. A "Yes" vote authorizes the City Council to levy a local retail sales tax of up to 1% and dedicate the proceeds solely to eligible school capital projects, public transportation projects, or both. A "No" vote does not authorize the City Council to levy this additional local retail sales tax. As a result, this funding option would not be available for these purposes.