POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Powhatan County officials may have to find another way to fund school improvement projects after residents voted against a 1% sales tax last week.  The referendum failed miserably on Election Day by 35 points.  "We still have these capital improvement needs. Som ebody's gotta pay for them, and unfortunately, it will be the taxpayers in Powhatan County 'cause that's where all the money comes from," said Vicki Hurt, school board member for District 1.   The sales tax referendum residents voted on was meant to potentially provide the county with $5 million a year for improvement projects throughout the county's five public schools. LIST: Here’s what Central Virginia voters had to say about 1% sales tax increase for schools Improvements include replacing heating and cooling systems, plumbing systems and roofing. In fact, Powhatan High School needs a new roof in the next few years that could cost millions of dollars alone.   "What was on the list for capital improvement for Powhatan County was not frivolous things. These were -- if these things aren't accomplished, it's like failure of mission. Schools would have to be closed," Hurt said.    But residents forcefully rejected the tax that would've been applied to things like eating out, clothing and electronics. Of the 16,846 voters, 67.65% voted "No."  But the improvements needed aren't going away.    The county has identified $58 million needed over the next 10 years for facility needs.  The county could borrow some grant funding, but the most glaring option is increasing the real estate tax — something the board of supervisors has the final say on.    Hurt said the school board comes up with two budgets each year: an operating budget and a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget. The sales tax would've only gone toward CIP projects.  The school board creates and presents its budgets to the board of supervisors, which decides how much can be given. The biggest chunk of the county's budget goes to the school system.   "Budgets are tight, as we all know," Hurt said. "The cost of living is very high. And someone going, 'Oh my Lord, another 1%.' It just, it kinda threw people for a loop, but then again, we have these needs, unfortunately. Somehow they've got to be paid for."   Powhatan wasn't the only county to have this referendum on ballots. In Richmond and Chesterfield County, it passed.   Hurt said Powhatan residents could find themselves paying the tax regardless of the Election Day results.  "Most of the people in Powhatan shop in Chesterfield. So, Powhatan citizens are gonna be paying that extra 1%, and the citizens of Chesterfield when they come to Powhatan aren't paying that," said Hurt. "I feel like if people had been really educated on what all the schools' needs were that the outcome would've been different."  The county tried to do exactly this with seven town hall meetings throughout all five districts to share information with residents and answer their questions.  ...read more read less