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Sales tax increase passes easily in Richmond, narrowly in Chesterfield

Sales tax increase passes easily in Richmond, narrowly in Chesterfield
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras sold the sales tax increase as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix aging facilities and build new schools. (Victoria A. Ifatusin/The Richmonder)

Richmond and Chesterfield both approved a 1% increase in sales tax to fund school construction and renovation on a night where the ballot measure was wildly unpopular statewide.

Statewide, 47 localities put the measure on the ballot, and it was rejected in 32 of those localities.

In Richmond, the measure passed across age and race demographics, with only five largely wealthy precincts voting against it in the Near West End, Windsor Farms and Stratford Hills.

"I am deeply grateful for every volunteer and every voter who made this possible," Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement. "My team is committed to working with our Council colleagues and RPS to be good stewards for what voters have entrusted us with."

The city is expected to issue bonds to borrow against the next 20 years of revenue that the tax will generate, so the money can be spent in a one-time lump sum instead of over the next two decades.

Avula has also promised to roll back the meals tax by 1%, so the cost of prepared foods will remain the same.

In Chesterfield, the county's urban core voted to pass the sales tax increase, splitting from the more rural precincts in the southern portion of the county.

The final tally on Tuesday night, with provisional ballots still remaining, had "yes" winning with 50.47% of the vote.

Voters who voted on Tuesday voted the measure down, while early voters and mail-in voters both favored it.

How Chesterfield voted

Early and mailed absentee ballots are reported countywide only, so they aren’t on the map. Hover or tap a precinct for its totals.

101 – Bellwood: 47.5% Yes 102 – South Chester: 47.5% Yes 103 – Enon: 42.3% Yes 104 – North Chester: 41.3% Yes 105 – Drewrys Bluff: 57.7% Yes 106 – Harrowgate: 43.2% Yes 108 – Ecoff: 43.2% Yes 109 – Elizabeth Scott: 42.6% Yes 110 – Dutch Gap: 43.2% Yes 111 – Iron Bridge: 33.6% Yes 112 – Carver: 45.6% Yes 113 – Iron Bridge North: 46.1% Yes 115 – Cresthill: 47.1% Yes 201 – Gates: 40.8% Yes 202 – Beulah: 54.9% Yes 203 – Bird: 50.9% Yes 205 – Falling Creek: 61.5% Yes 207 – Chippenham: 62.2% Yes 208 – Meadowbrook: 61.4% Yes 209 – Salem Church: 50.9% Yes 210 – Five Forks: 55.0% Yes 211 – Nash: 34.7% Yes 213 – Southside: 58.7% Yes 218 – New Manchester: 55.2% Yes 219 – Gates East: 46.7% Yes 220 – Falling Creek East: 56.7% Yes 221 – Oxbridge: 46.9% Yes 222 – Turner: 60.1% Yes 301 – Ettrick: 66.4% Yes 303 – Matoaca: 36.2% Yes 304 – Winfrees Store: 28.1% Yes 305 – Beach: 27.8% Yes 306 – Winterpock: 28.2% Yes 307 – Cosby: 43.2% Yes 309 – Skinquarter: 40.1% Yes 313 – Woolridge South: 43.9% Yes 314 – Longhouse: 26.3% Yes 315 – Bailey Bridge: 34.3% Yes 316 – Spring Run: 42.4% Yes 319 – Magnolia: 42.2% Yes 320 – Dry Creek: 44.9% Yes 321 – Claypoint: 45.5% Yes 322 – Hensley: 38.8% Yes 401 – Harbour Pointe: 47.9% Yes 402 – Genito: 47.9% Yes 403 – Brandermill: 51.6% Yes 404 – Providence: 52.8% Yes 405 – La Prade: 47.9% Yes 408 – Reams: 57.9% Yes 410 – Wagstaff: 53.7% Yes 411 – Swift Creek: 48.0% Yes 412 – Clover Hill: 46.1% Yes 413 – Shenandoah: 53.3% Yes 414 – Crenshaw: 43.0% Yes 415 – Evergreen: 48.2% Yes 418 – Woolridge North: 47.9% Yes 419 – North Courthouse: 50.8% Yes 420 – New Tomahawk: 44.6% Yes 421 – Lucks Lane: 50.4% Yes 422 – Otterdale: 49.8% Yes 503 – Midlothian: 49.8% Yes 504 – Robious: 48.6% Yes 505 – Bon Air: 60.8% Yes 506 – Greenfield: 60.4% Yes 507 – Salisbury: 46.3% Yes 508 – Belgrade: 52.4% Yes 509 – Cranbeck: 54.6% Yes 510 – Sycamore: 51.8% Yes 511 – Black Heath: 50.3% Yes 513 – Beaufont: 59.3% Yes 514 – Watkins: 49.5% Yes 515 – Davis: 62.6% Yes 516 – Pocoshock North: 54.5% Yes 517 – Roseland: 47.0% Yes 518 – Midlothian North: 47.5% Yes 519 – Buford: 63.8% Yes 520 – Walton Park: 53.3% Yes 521 – Rockaway: 56.6% Yes

Unofficial results as of 11:12 p.m. Nov. 3, 2026. Source: Virginia Department of Elections; precinct boundaries from Chesterfield County GIS.

The final margin in Chesterfield is close enough that a recount could still be called for, meaning that the race is not officially over yet.

Chesterfield officials also plan to issue bonds against the proceeds the sales tax would generate, and have promised to lower the county's real estate and personal property taxes as a concession to voters.

In rural Powhatan County, which borders Chesterfield, the measure failed badly, mustering support from just 32% of voters.

Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org.

The interactive graphic accompanying this article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The Richmonder does not allow the use of AI to write news articles, and all AI output is verified by a human before publication. Read our full policy here.

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