TVRC Board of Directors approves support of the 1% Sales Tax Referendum
The proposed 1% sales tax referendum, if passed in the City of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia, would support important investment in our community's future.
The TVRC 2026 Legislative Priorities recognizes that strong infrastructure is foundational to economic prosperity and quality of life. The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber has identified infrastructure preparedness, workforce solutions, and government collaboration as key priorities for building a stronger regional economy. Quality public schools are central to all three objectives.
Businesses considering where to locate and expand evaluate the strength of local school systems alongside transportation, housing, and workforce availability. Modern, safe, and well-equipped schools help attract families, retain talent, and prepare the next generation of workers our employers need. The Chamber's priorities specifically support initiatives that attract, train, and retain talent while enhancing the overall competitiveness of our region.
The referendum offers a responsible funding mechanism dedicated exclusively to public school construction and major renovation projects. The proposed tax would apply to most retail purchases, while groceries and personal hygiene products would remain exempt. Importantly, the revenue could only be used for qualifying school capital projects and related financing costs, and the authorization expires no later than July 14, 2046.
This is not simply an investment in school buildings. It is an investment in economic development, workforce readiness, and the long-term vitality of Winchester and Frederick County. By sharing the cost among residents and visitors who shop in our community, the referendum provides a broader and more balanced approach to addressing critical school infrastructure needs.
Supporting excellent schools strengthens our communities, our workforce, and our local economy. Those goals align directly with the vision outlined by the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber for a region where businesses and residents can thrive together.
Cynthia Schneider, CEO
On behalf of the TVRC Board of Directors
October 13, 2026
 2026 Legislative Priorities
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber is focused on strengthening businesses in the City of Winchester, Clarke County, and Frederick County, Virginia and fostering an environment in which businesses and community can thrive. The goal is to make our region a better place for all who work, live, and do business here. To elevate the voice of business, TVRC supports the following policy positions:
Functional, safe, high-quality infrastructure is foundational to the success and prosperity of the region's businesses and residents alike.
- TVRC will champion an affordable, reliable, resilient, competitive, and balanced approach to energy that recognizes the value and importance of a secure and diverse energy mix capable of meeting the region's growing needs with continuous, uninterrupted, always available energy.
- TVRC advocates for improved road infrastructure in support of economic development growth opportunities with added safety for the business community and consumers using the roads.
- TVRC encourages enhancements in support of multi-modal transportation providers who cite location, including proximity to Northern Virginia/Interstates, Dulles International Airport, Winchester Regional Airport, and the Inland Port in Warren County, as one of the top benefits to having a business in this region. Multi-modal transportation will continue to be prioritized for economic development, increased safety, a reduction of travel barriers, and to provide maximum workforce participation.
TVRC supports workforce development and educational opportunities that help to attract, train, and retain talent at all skill levels and ages. The business community must work in partnership with government to ensure that programs are developing the skills businesses and workers require to succeed.
- Champion and protect Virginia's right-to-work statute as the foundation of workforce flexibility, employee choice, and the embodiment of the freedom of association.
- Monitor wage and benefit regulations that would overregulate businesses.
- Support housing, childcare, and health & wellness initiatives to increase accessibility for the region's workforce.
Building and maintaining strong synergy between local government and the business community, leading to proactive engagement on business policy, less regulations, and lower business and property taxes.
- Continuing to prioritize economic development, including support for small- and medium-sized businesses and more business-friendly legislation, is critical to robust business growth.
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Board of Directors adopted these 2026 policy priorities following their development by the TVRC's Public Policy Committee. We thank our members, the elected officials who represent our region, as well as senior government officials who have participated in events throughout the year to discuss issues facing our region. That support and insight assisted in the development of this legislative agenda.
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Public Policy Positions:
The Public Policy Positions of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber are presented by the Chamber's Public Policy Committee. As the Chamber seeks to demonstrate its ability to represent the business interest of our community, we have outlined general positions to assist our business community's growth and the prosperity of our community.
The Chamber represents a diverse membership of large and small businesses and organizations. This diversity also provides diverse opinions on particular or specific issues. However, the Chamber is presenting positions which represent the greater organization with two requirements:
- Is it important to its member?
- Does it reflect the opinion of the clear majority of the business community?
We respect our members and understand some may disagree, however as issues evolve and the environment changes, positions may also change. With this evolution, the Chamber welcomes and encourages well informed discussions on the issues facing business. We also encourage the expression of various opinions from our members and participation with our Public Policy Committee.
Position Statement: The Chamber supports a reduction in harmful regulations placed by government upon businesses and generally opposes efforts to increase governmental regulations. The Chamber supports a reduction in the level of current government regulation, and opposes further regulatory action except in the most necessary of circumstances. Of course, the Chamber realizes there are limited circumstances in which it is necessary for the government to take regulatory action. The Chamber realizes governing officials strive to serve the legitimate needs of those by whom they are elected. However, no matter how important the goal, it is not wise or fair for the cost of measures meant to promote the general welfare to be borne solely or primarily by the business community. Thus, the Chamber hopes all parties will agree to strike a fair and just compromise.
Position statement: The Chamber supports a revenue system fostering a favorable business climate and encourages the economic development, which means taxes should be few in number and should not disproportionately burden one sector of the economy over another. Taxes administered should maintain a balance between tax growth, population growth and economic activity.
The Chamber supports local and state tax policy encouraging business opportunities and investments for general business. Industry-specific taxes should generally be avoided. Income taxes should not have a high marginal tax rate nor have excessive brackets. The Chamber supports a competitive sales tax rate applied to a broad base and designed to encompass true consumption. The Chamber also supports the continuation of the long-standing state policy of not placing a sales tax on goods acquired for production.
Position Statement: The Chamber believes a strong education system and the availability of technically skilled people are vital to our region's future prosperity and quality of life. Business has a critical role to play, in partnership with our educational institutions and those providing workforce training services, to ensure we have the talent to remain competitive.
The Chamber supports continued education and training at all levels, including pre-K-12 education, post-secondary education, adult literacy, vocational and certification programs, as well as on-the-job and customized training programs. The involvement of business in workforce development is essential to our attractiveness and effectiveness as a business location.
Position Statement:Â The Chamber supports increased long-term investment in transportation infrastructure to promote economic development and quality of life in the region.
Effective transportation systems are essential to continued economic growth and development in the upper Shenandoah Valley region as well as Virginia. All modes of transportation are becoming increasingly important to the prosperity, health, education. Safety, security, environment and overall quality of life--but the resources are not available to meet demands. The Chamber supports increased investment in transportation infrastructure and coordinated land-use planning, with appropriate emphasis and funding given to the Shenandoah Valley region, to support the growing economy and population. Further, the Chamber supports the development of a comprehensive, long-term solution addressing the following criteria: transportation safety and security; improvement in the mobility within and across all travel modes; community goals as it relates to economic development; maximizing transportation operations and efficiency in the region; and providing adequate funding for roadway maintenance, maintenance of secondary roads and balances concerns with respect to aesthetics.
Position Statement:Â The Chamber supports conservative, cost-effective solutions of improving Interstate 81.
The solution should be as least costly and as conservative as is required to meet the legitimate needs for upgrade, repair and improvement of Interstate 81. Solutions requiring expensive and wholesale changes along the length of Interstate 81 without justifying a need are not favored by the Chamber. The aesthetic beauty of our home region provides our residents with enjoyment and tourism is vital to our economy and livelihoods. Any solution should minimize the impact of construction and repair on our natural resources.
Position Statement. The Chamber opposes any effort to establish a minimum wage higher than the federally mandated minimum wage for the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any of its localities.
The proponents of these so-called "living wage ordinances," while perhaps well-meaning, ignore certain economic realities. First, these measures put the state or locality at a competitive disadvantage in comparison to its neighbors. Second, increases in the minimum wage intended to address poverty can actually have an adverse effect of increasing poverty by eliminating certain entry-level jobs. Finally, these "living wage" laws hurt both the businesses who must divert funds away from job creation and benefits to fund the mandate, and their employees who miss out on these benefits and opportunities. Instead, the Chamber encourages localities and businesses to focus on providing people with workforce training and advancement opportunities so employees can get the skills needed to advance in the workplace and earn more without a mandate.
Position Statement:Â The Chamber supports public and private initiatives undertaken to ensure that high quality and affordable health care for the people living in the region can be sustained over time.
Delivery of health care locally should reflect cost efficiencies, accountability, and excellence in the delivery of services. We believe long term sustainability and viability of our businesses, both small and large, will be dependent upon management of health care costs. Affordability of medical care significantly affects the quality of life for people living in our region.
Position Statement: The creation of jobs and economic prosperity through expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new business activity to the area is a priority for the Chamber. Effective economic development includes removing unnecessary regulation, tax burdens and governmental interference to allow free enterprise to work. The Chamber also recognizes, in some cases, economic development may require governmental support in the form of enhanced infrastructure of tax adjustments to attract new businesses.
Local governments need the ability to make decisions which creating a climate which is attractive for business and conducive to expanded business activity by both new and existing companies. The Chamber believes an economic development program is crucial to success for our communities and businesses -- and such a program is best conceived and conducted through a cooperative and supportive partnership between the public sector and the business community.
Position Statement:Â The Chamber would oppose any effort to weaken Virginia's right-to-work laws.
Virginia's economy has improved under the state's pro-growth focus. As one of 21 Right-to-Work states, we pride ourselves on a positive labor relations climate.
The Chamber opposes efforts at the federal level to change the process through which workers decide whether or not they want to be represented by a labor union. Today's process assures workers a secret ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Their long-protected right to make their decision privately and in secret -- free from public scrutiny, visible goading, or tacit manipulation -- would be stripped away. We believe that the right to a secret ballot is a cornerstone of our democracy.
2026 Candidate Forums
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber’s Public Policy Committee recently hosted two Candidate Forums at The Hive at Shenandoah University. The Frederick County Board of Supervisors Candidate Forum was held Monday, October 5, followed by the Winchester City Council Candidate Forum on Thursday, October 8.
Candidates responded to questions developed by the Public Policy Committee, giving voters an opportunity to hear directly from those seeking local office and learn more about their priorities and perspectives.
The Public Policy Committee follows a variety of topics from local, state and federal governments. Here are some of the items of note we're following:
Resources
Grassroots Advocacy
"Grassroots advocacy" is the process of contacting elected officials in relation to important policy issues. "Advocacy" is defined as advocating, speaking, or writing in support of something. An "advocate" is a person who speaks or writes in support of something. Under this definition, we are all advocates. Grassroots advocates raise public awareness on issues to influence public perception, regulations, and public policy.
