HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-26RESOLUTION 2015-26
RESOLUTION 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WHEREAS, Pulaski County's current middle schools are outdated and not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, 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 notei); 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.
Chair, Pulaski County School Board
Chair, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors
Mayor, Town of Pulaski
Mayor, Town of Dublin
Chair, Pulaski Encouraging Progress
President, Pulaski Co. Chamber of Commerce
1 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.