JONESVILLE, Va. (WJHL) — The Lee County Board of Supervisors approved a property tax increase and provided funding to keep all Lee County Schools open.

The proposal passed in a 3–2 vote Wednesday night to raise the property tax from 51 cents per $100 of assessed value to 69 cents, a nearly 34% increase.

There have been concerns about schools closing if the tax increase wasn’t passed.

The school system had originally requested $7.8 million, but Superintendent Brian Dean asked the board last week for at least the “bare minimum” of $7.1 million.

Wednesday night, Dean told News Channel 11 that the $7.1 million the board approved will allow all schools to stay open.

“We’ve got the funding to not even look at school closure next year,” Dean said. “Keep all programs, all people in place, all schools open.”

The two no votes were from Supervisors Brian Shoemaker and Mike Kidwell.

Shoemaker said he voted no because he ran against raising taxes.

Kidwell said after voting for a tax increase last year, he would not do the same for his constituents this year.