Virginia Cities Reject School Tax Hikes in Local Elections
Voters in Newport News, Norfolk, and Portsmouth rejected school funding tax increases while reelecting several incumbent mayors and council members on Tuesday.
Voters across three Virginia cities rejected proposed local sales tax increases intended to fund school construction and capital improvements during Tuesday's elections. In Newport News, 62% of voters opposed a 1% tax hike that would have generated $30 million annually. Norfolk voters rejected a similar measure with 56% opposition, losing a potential $50 million in annual funding, while 61% of Portsmouth voters voted against a tax that would have provided $13 million for Portsmouth Public Schools.
Phillip Jones won reelection as Mayor of Newport News with approximately 65% of the unofficial vote. Other Newport News victors included City Council members John Eley and Curtis Bethany III, and School Board incumbents Douglas Brown and Terri Best. In Norfolk, incumbents Mamie Johnson and John “JP” Paige led their respective City Council races, while newcomer Josh Howell led incumbent Adale Martin for a School Board seat in Ward 1.
In Portsmouth, incumbent Vernon Tillage Jr. and former council member Lisa Lucas-Burke are poised to win at-large City Council seats. A third seat remains undecided in a tight race between Vice Mayor Bill Moody and Mark Whitaker, who are separated by only 63 votes. Four incumbents on the Portsmouth School Board are slated for reelection.
