One for Prince Edward

10/19/2026

We believe there are FIVE simple reasons to vote YES on the schools referendum. Next up: Local community helping local needs.

This is a local measure strictly for Prince Edward County—not a statewide tax. Every single penny collected would stay right here in our community. Not a dime can be spent anywhere else in Virginia.

Learn more 👉 oneforprinceedward.com

10/16/2026

“Stronger schools, smarter funding” is a common-sense, local issue that goes beyond partisan politics. That’s why the two leaders of the Prince Edward Republican and Democratic parties are speaking with one voice today, jointly endorsing the 1% sales tax referendum to support Prince Edward County public schools.” Read their joint statement 👇

Farmville, Virginia—Prince Edward Republican Party Chair Carolyn Bowman and Prince Edward Democratic Party Chair Patsy Watson today issued the following joint statement of support for the 1% Sales Tax Referendum for school construction and renovation that appears on the county ballot this year."As...

10/14/2026

“How do we know the money will stay here and be spent on local school buildings as promised?” Well, state law requires it—and that’s what’s happened in nearby localities where voters have previously approved a 1% sales tax for their local schools.

How has a 1% sales tax referendum worked out in nearby Halifax? It’s already working, and they couldn’t be happier with the results. 👇

Six years after voters in Halifax County approved a sales tax increase, the school system shared that they are seeing massive benefits.During the

10/13/2026

It’s three weeks from Election Day—and we’re working hard to make sure voters understand how the 1% sales tax referendum can help Prince Edward build stronger schools with smarter funding.

If we can win, it will make a generational difference for our kids and community. But we have to get the word out—and time is running short. Please talk to friends and neighbors. Put up a yard sign. And if you haven’t already, please consider a donation that will help us continue our print, mailing and digital advertising strong through the finish line.

To learn more and donate 👇

This November, Prince Edward County has a proven opportunity to invest in our local schools. Neighboring counties like Charlotte and Halifax have already used this exact tool to support their school facilities—and they did it by tapping into sales tax revenue from out-of-town shoppers, taking the ...

10/12/2026

Fellow citizens from every background, affiliation and party are united in a single belief: stronger schools through smarter funding is the easiest decision on the ballot this November.

David Emert, Board of Supervisors member for the Prospect district, says this: "While the Board of Supervisors cannot take an official position on the referendum, as a citizen and voter I will be voting ‘Yes' because this is something our kids and teachers need—and because it's a good deal for County taxpayers. We have overdue repairs and renovations we really need to make, and they'll only get more expensive if we don't start to face them. Collecting revenue from out-of-town shoppers means the entire burden won't fall on county property taxpayers and businesses.

I also know our schools are being asked to do a lot with a little, and we owe it to our hard-working teachers and kids to make sure they have adequate support and facilities. This is our local community stepping up to support ourselves and to show teachers and kids that we value education. But it also makes good financial sense for taxpayers in the long run."

Read what other leaders and residents are saying 👉 oneforprinceedward.com/intheirwords

10/09/2026

From before sunrise until late at night, the work teachers like Louis Gould—"Mr. G"—put in for the kids in our community is extraordinary. Voting "Yes" on the local schools referendum will show we value their work, and help provide the tools they need to succeed.

You might already know Louis Gould, a.k.a. “Mr. G.” Maybe you saw him on channel 12 receiving the station’s Act of Kindness

10/09/2026

We believe there are FIVE simple reasons to vote YES on the schools referendum. Next up: Something we can all get behind.

This isn’t a political issue; it’s a community issue. The effort to bring this vote to Prince Edward was supported by leaders from both parties in Richmond, backed overwhelmingly by local elected officials across the political spectrum, and has support from local business owners who understand that a strong public school system is essential for economic growth and our future tax base.

Learn more 👉 oneforprinceedward.com

10/07/2026

Fellow citizens from every background, affiliation and party are united in a single belief: stronger schools through smarter funding is the easiest decision on the ballot this November.

Cainan Townsend, Executive Director of the Moton Museum, PECPS alumnus and parent and School Board Chair, says this: "Prince Edward County Public Schools have been a part of my life for generations. As a parent of current students, School Board member, multigenerational alumnus, adjunct instructor, and community member, I have seen firsthand how strong schools strengthen our entire community. I support the 1% sales tax initiative because it creates a broader, fairer way to fund needed school improvements without relying exclusively on property tax increases. It also exempts groceries, protecting families from added costs on everyday necessities. Supporting this initiative means investing in our children, preserving the quality of our schools, and sharing that investment across everyone who benefits from our local economy."

Read what other leaders and residents are saying 👉 oneforprinceedward.com/intheirwords

10/05/2026

One last post to clear up misconceptions about the 1% referendum. We’ve gotten a lot of questions about Virginia Lottery funding. Doesn’t that pay for schools?

Virginia Lottery profits must, by law, be used to support K-12 education. They are a source of state support that helps Prince Edward Schools pay teachers and support classroom programs. As you can see at the link below, Prince Edward receives about $2 million annually as its share of Lottery distributions. The total budget for Prince Edward Schools is about $36 million.

But Lottery funds do NOT pay for the buildings themselves. When schools need to build or renovate, most of the cost falls on localities—usually through one lever: the real estate tax. By spreading the cost in part to out-of-town shoppers, a small sales tax would provide a reliable, steady revenue stream so that building renovation costs don’t have to hit other parts of the budget or fall entirely on county residents.

There are some OTHER state programs, like the School Construction Fund, that supplement what localities contribute to school facilities. Prince Edward has used this support to help reduce our share of the cost of the elementary school renovation. Obviously, the county will continue to pursue what state funding it can. But these are competitive, non-renewable grants—and nowhere near enough to cover the scale of what our middle and high school facilities currently need. Overall, Virginia covers only about 10 percent of school construction costs. If we don’t pass this, almost all of the burden will fall on local property taxpayers.

See our share of the lottery 👉 https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment
Learn more 👉 https://www.oneforprinceedward.com

10/03/2026

Many local business leaders support the local schools referendum because they know that a strong public school system is good for Prince Edward’s economy—and that a smarter funding mechanism will help keep the burden from falling entirely on local property taxpayers.

Thank you, Cameron Patterson, chair of the Farmville Chamber of Commerce, for your words of support in Friday’s Farmville Herald. Read more 👇

There are certain moments in the life of a community when we are called to think beyond the present and invest in the future we hope to create. For me, […]