Chap. 65.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 698 of the Code of Virginia,
providing for the levying of taxes and the appropriating of money by counties,
cities and towns for public school purposes. [H B 199]

Approved February 27, 1946

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia :

1. That section six hundred ninety-eight of the Code of Virginia
be amended and re-enacted. as follows:

Section 698. Levving taxes and appropriating money for school
_purposes.—Each county and city 1s authorized to raise sums of money by
a tax on all property. subject to local taxation, at such rate as may be
deemed sufficient, but in no event less than fifty cents nor more than two
dollars and fifty cents on the one hundred dollars of the assessed value
of the property in any one year, to be expended by the local school au-
thorities in the counties and cities in establishing, maintaining and op-
erating such schools as 1n their judgment the public welfare requires.

In lieu of making such school levy, the governing body of any county
or city may, in its discretion, make a cash appropriation from the funds
derived from the general county or city levy of an amount not less than
the sum required by the county or city school budget provided for by
section six hundred fifty-seven and approved by the governing body of
the county or city, but in no event to be less than the minimum nor more
than the maximum amount which would result from the laying of the
school levy authorized by this section for the establishment, maintenance
and operation of the schools of the county or city. In addition to this, the
governing body of any county or city may appropriate from any funds
available, such sums as in its judgment may be necessary or expedient
for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the public schools in
the county or city.

For capital expenditures and for the payment of indebtedness or
rent, the governing body of any county or city may levy a special county
tax, a special district tax, or a special city tax, as the case may be, on
all property subject to local taxation, such levy or levies to be at such
rate or rates as the governing body levying the tax may deem necessary
for the purpose or purposes for which levied, except that where the tax
is for raising funds for capital expenditures the rate shall not be more
than one dollar and fifty cents on the one hundred dollars of the assessed
value of the property 1n any one year.

The governing body of any incorporated town in the State is au-
thorized to levy an additional tax on all the property in the town, sub-
ject to local taxation, at such rate as it may deem proper, but in no event
more than one dollar on the one hundred dollars of the assessed value of
property in the town subject to taxation by the local town authorities,
for the support and maintenance, and capital outlay of the public schools
in the town; or, in lieu of such levy, the governing body may make a
cash appropriation out of the general town levy of an amount not more
than the maximum amount which would result from the school levy
for the support and maintenance of the public schools in the town.
Nothing herein shall be construed as raising or abrogating any maxi-
ium tax rate limit provided in any city charter.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from it passage.