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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-35RESOLUTION 2014-35 REQUESTING GENERAL ASSEMBLY AUTHORIZATION TO IMPLEMENT A LOCAL TAX ON CIGARETTES IN THE UNINCOPORATED PORTIONS OF PULASKI COUNTY, VIRGINA WHEREAS, Pulaski County's current middle schools are outdated and not sufficient to meet the 21st Century learning needs of Pulaski County's students; and WHEREAS, Dublin Elementary School is overcrowded and needs substantial renovations to increase its capacity and to provide a student learning environment consistent with Pulaski County's other elementary schools; and WHEREAS, substantial capital improvement needs exist at several other Pulaski County school facilities; and WHEREAS, the Pulaski County Public Schools no longer receive any dedicated state money for school construction/capital projects from the Commonwealth (see foot note); and WHEREAS, the financial support for school construction, renovations, capital improvements and maintenance are now borne almost entirely by Pulaski County; and WHEREAS, Pulaski County has limited sources of local revenue and must rely significantly on the taxation of local real estate to meet the costs of school construction and capital improvements; and WHEREAS, Virginia law permits cities and towns to enact a local tax on tobacco products, and two Virginia counties are currently authorized to implement a cigarette tax; and WHEREAS, the Town of Pulaski, the largest municipality in Pulaski County, currently.. imposes a tax on tobacco products as a local revenue source; and WHEREAS, the enactment of a cigarette tax by the County of Pulaski would provide a badly needed additional revenue source to meet school construction and capital improvements costs; NOW BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Pulaski County School Board, Pulaski Encouraging Progress, Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, the Town-of Dublin, the Town of Pulaski and the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors respectfully request that the .Virginia General Assembly grant the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors the authorization to enact a local tax on cigarette sales in the unincorporated portions of Pulaski County with the revenue derived therefrom to be used exclusively for school construction and capital improvement needs. ..~/~ f Chair, Pulaski County School Board Mayor, T n of Dublin air, Pulaski County B d f Supervisors M own of Pulaski _ ~~ ~ vv~- ~~~ Presi ent, Pulaski Co. Chamber of Commerce Chair, Pulaski Encoura ng Progress For many years, Virginia Lottery money came to schools as additional state funding with the requirement that one-half be used for non-recurring expenses such as school construction and renovation projects. For the last three fiscal years of this dedicated school construction funding, Pulaski County received $795,625 (FY 2007), $740,941 (FY 2008), and $677,829 (FY 2009). Beginning in 2009, the state began directing Lottery money to be used for instructional programs previously supported by the General Fund in effect supplanting previous state funding. These include preschool programs, textbooks, and many others. In FY 2014, Virginia Lottery funding in the amount of $2,161,658 was restricted to 13 specific program areas eliminating all state support for building maintenance or construction.