The Gloucester Board of Supervisors voted to hold a referendum on the November ballot to institute a local sales tax not to exceed 1 percent to fund renovations to Gloucester County Public Schools during its Aug. 5 meeting.

The referendum was made possible by a vote of the Virginia General Assembly, authorizing Gloucester County to levy the local sales tax for construction or renovation of county schools.

The referendum has been a long time coming for the board of supervisors. “It only took us two years to get to this point,” said board member Ashley Chriscoe.

In March, it was reported that the increase of the tax rate would be from 5.3 percent to 6 percent, which would put the rate closer to that of localities in Hampton Roads.

“This is a good way to fund the renovations for the high school,” said board chair Phillip Bazzani, “if the taxpayers are willing to pay the additional penny to allow this to happen.”

County Attorney Ted Wilmot addressed the wording in the resol...