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To The Editor:

Earlier this year, legislation was passed giving some localities the opportunity to hold a referendum on increasing the local sales tax by 1% on certain items, with the resulting revenue to be used only for local school renovations/construction. 

Voters in Mecklenburg, Charlotte and other Virginia counties may soon have the right to raise sales taxes by 1% in their respective localities to help fund schools.

Halifax County passed its 1% sales tax referendum last year. Voters in Charlotte County have the opportunity this year. 

I was asked to serve as a citizen representative on a committee regarding this sales tax referendum.  The name of this committee is, “Vote Yes for Charlotte County VA Schools.” The purpose is to raise awareness for this vital sales tax referendum which will be on the November 3, ballot in Charlotte County.

This is such an amazing opportunity to support our local schools, because the money will be used exclusively for Charlotte County school repairs and renovations.  The monies generated from this sales tax will provide the school system with a budget from which necessary improvements and repairs to our schools can be made.  We all know how badly our schools need this money. 

A growing body of research has found that school facilities can have a profound impact on both teacher and student outcomes. According to research at Penn State University, “facility quality is an important predictor of teacher retention and student learning. The physical and emotional health of students and teachers depend on the quality of the physical location, which makes establishing safe, healthy buildings essential.”

Our children are our future and our children depend on our school system.  Please vote yes for Charlotte County schools on November 3.

For more information on this tax referendum, visit www.VoteYesforCharlotteCountyVaSchools.com or join us on Facebook at Yesforcharlottecountyschools

Hazel Bowman Smith

Red Oak