Bristol School Board candidates are split on sales tax referendum
Reported byCardinal News
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Bristol, Virginia voters will choose three school board members in the Nov. 3 election. Five independent candidates are running: Vanessa Guffey, Rhoda Blackwell, Bryan Kimberlin, Shannon Love and Ric Watts. Guffey is the only incumbent, so at least two seats will go to newcomers. Candidates told the reporter that a well-rounded curriculum, better teacher support, building upgrades and school lunch nutrition are top priorities.
Their biggest disagreement is over a new option created by Virginia lawmakers this year: an extra 1% local sales tax, with the revenue restricted to school construction. Voters must approve it in a referendum, which a city council or board of supervisors has to start and a circuit court judge has to place on the ballot. Several dozen localities, including Smyth, Wythe and Grayson counties, have it on this year's ballot. Washington County's supervisors approved an April special election on it. The issue has not yet appeared on Bristol's city council or school board agendas.
Guffey and Blackwell favor letting voters decide, citing needs such as cooling problems in some buildings and improvements at Virginia Middle School. Kimberlin would want a thorough needs assessment before any ballot question. Love and Watts oppose adding to residents' tax burden; Watts doubts a referendum would pass in Bristol. The article notes the city raised several taxes since 2023, and 2025 reassessments increased many tax bills.
Why it matters
The new board members could influence whether Bristol pursues a sales tax for school construction, which affects school building conditions and what residents pay. Families and taxpayers can see how each candidate approaches facilities needs and tax burden.
- Candidate profiles
- Bond measure
- Building repairs
- Property taxes
- Heat and air conditioning
Written with AI from the publisher's article and may contain errors. The original reporting is the authoritative source.
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- How should a community weigh school building needs against residents' existing tax burden?
- What information would voters need before deciding on a dedicated sales tax for school construction?
- What role should a school board play when a funding option depends on action by another governing body?
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