Winchester voters approved a 1% sales tax for school construction, 56% to 44%, with every ballot counted. Frederick County voted it down, 56% to 44%.

Updated Nov. 14: the totals now include provisional and post-election ballots. The tax passed 5,263 to 4,076, 56.4% to 43.6%. No result changed.

Winchester voters approved an extra 1% sales tax to pay for school construction and renovation in the Nov. 3 election.

The measure passed with 5,263 Yes votes (56.4%) to 4,076 No (43.6%), a margin of 1,187 votes. The figures come from the Virginia Department of Elections’ unofficial results. All six city precincts have reported, and the totals now include provisional and post-election ballots. The state still labels them unofficial until the State Board of Elections ascertains the results, which it must do by Dec. 7 under Section 24.2-679 of the Code of Virginia.

Frederick County, which surrounds the city, voted the same question down. The county count was 17,854 Yes (44.0%) to 22,715 No (56.0%), with all 29 county precincts reporting.

What voters approved

State law lets any Virginia city or county outside Planning District 8 add a sales tax of up to 1% for school buildings, but only after a referendum. Section 58.1-605.1 of the Code of Virginia sets the rules:

  • The money can be spent only on capital projects to build or renovate schools serving the city.
  • The tax does not apply to groceries or essential personal hygiene products.
  • It must carry an end date no more than 20 years after the council resolution that started the referendum.
  • The state collects it and sends it back to a separate fund for the city.

The city and Winchester Public Schools held “1 for Schools” public meetings on the measure before the vote, according to the city’s events calendar.

What it would mean at the register

Winchester’s general sales tax rate is 5.3%, the rate for most of Virginia outside the Northern Virginia, Richmond-area and Hampton Roads regions, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Once the new tax takes effect, that becomes 6.3% on most purchases in the city. Groceries and hygiene products stay at the 1% statewide rate. On a $100 taxable purchase, the tax would rise from $5.30 to $6.30.

Because Frederick County voted no, stores in the county keep charging 5.3%.

How each precinct voted

The tax passed in all six precincts. Support was strongest in the First and Second Wards and closest in the Third and Fourth.

Precinct Yes No Yes share
0102 Old Town 920 620 59.7%
0101 Merrimans 1,359 940 59.1%
0201 Virginia Avenue 890 621 58.9%
0301 War Memorial 844 733 53.5%
0402 Rolling Hills 827 766 51.9%
0401 Frederick Douglass 423 396 51.6%
Whole city 5,263 4,076 56.4%

The state’s precinct figures include early, mailed and provisional votes.

Bar chart of the Yes share on Winchester's 1% school sales tax by precinct, including provisional ballots: Old Town 59.7%, Merrimans 59.1%, Virginia Avenue 58.9%, War Memorial 53.5%, Rolling Hills 51.9%, Frederick Douglass 51.6%, whole city 56.4%.
Yes share by precinct, including provisional ballots. Chart by Winchester Now
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Early voters backed the tax most strongly: 2,509 Yes to 1,658 No. On Election Day the count was much closer, 2,294 Yes to 2,099 No. Mailed ballots ran 348 Yes to 280 No, and provisional ballots 101 Yes to 32 No.

Winchester was one of 15 places to say yes

Forty-seven Virginia cities and counties put a local sales tax question on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to the state’s results. With every precinct reporting, 15 approved it and 32 rejected it.

Cities were far more willing than counties:

  • Cities: 10 of 15 said yes, including Winchester, Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville and Richmond. Martinsville passed it by 10 votes.
  • Counties: 5 of 32 said yes. Albemarle, Chesterfield, Prince Edward, Rappahannock and Middlesex approved it. Frederick, Augusta, Stafford and 26 others did not.

What happens next

A Yes vote does not start the tax by itself. Under the state law:

  • City Council must adopt an ordinance that states the tax’s purpose and its end date.
  • The tax starts on the first day of a month at least 120 days after that ordinance is adopted.
  • The city sends a certified copy to the state tax commissioner within five days.

The city has not published a start date for the tax. We will report when an ordinance appears on a council agenda.

What it means for you

  • Nothing changes at the register yet. The rate stays 5.3% until the council acts and the 120-day wait runs out.
  • Groceries are not affected. Food bought to eat at home and hygiene products stay at 1%.
  • The money is tied to school buildings. It cannot pay for salaries or day-to-day school costs. Our Winchester schools guide lists every city school.
  • Every ballot is now counted. The state labels the result unofficial until the State Board of Elections ascertains it, by Dec. 7.
  • Property taxes are a separate question. Our property tax guide covers the city’s real estate and personal property tax bills.

The council, School Board and congressional results are in our Winchester election results story.