The Mathews County Board of Supervisors, meeting briefly on Tuesday, voted unanimously to have a voter referendum during the November 2026 general election on whether to levy an additional 1 percent sales tax in the county. The tax, if approved by the voters, is expected to generate approximately $1 million annually and would be restricted to paying for either new school construction or major school renovations. According to County Attorney Andrea Erard, it could also be used to pay down the school renovation portion of the $12 million debt the county took on this year, beginning next April, when the tax would go into effect. During discussion of the matter, supervisors expressed their intention to use any revenue generated by the tax to pay down the bond debt. Since the sales tax is paid by visitors as well as residents, board members were all supportive of the opportunity to “take some of the weight off the homeowners,” as supervisor Pat Beattie said. “I think it’s great that we’re g...