Now that the General Assembly has frozen property tax valuations in Guilford County this year, that leaves the elected officials on the Guilford Board of County Commissioners and the Greensboro City Council in a bit of a quandary. They had been counting on being able to fool the citizenry by cutting the tax rate while collecting more taxes. Now, if they want more revenue, they will have to raise the tax rate.
How are they responding?
Greensboro’s mayor is saying they will have to raise taxes because expenses are rising– employees’ health insurance, chemicals to treat drinking water, etc. The city manager is presenting tax rate increases of 9 cents or 12 cents. There is little discussion of cuts even though Greensboro funds many unnecessary services and has a large number of managers of different programs making six figures. Other employers will respond to increases in employees’ health insurance by increasing deductibles and copays, but Greensboro politicians regard city employees as their political base.
Skip Alston says the county will have to cut public safety– the sheriff’s office and the rural fire departments. He, of course, does not mention the possibility of cutting welfare programs or education-related funding. His thuggish approach suggests cutting programs that will be considered most worthy by his political opponents so that he gets what he wants.
We need better leadership in Greensboro and Guilford County, but we are unlikely to get it given the nature of the local population.
This Greensboro city government is a big mess .
Its government and Guilford County School system ( GSS), funded by taxpayers, face allegations of corruption, conflicts, and waste. A DOGE-like entity could audit city procurement, assets, and GCS’s staff, bonuses, and unpaid teacher time to save millions. Citizens can hold officials accountable through records requests, advocacy, and post-employment monitoring. Stronger laws and public engagement are critical to ensuring Greensboro and GCS serve the public, not private interests, fostering an equitable and efficient community.
The legislature tries to protect the citizens and all the City suggests is raising the tax rate. Wow!
There should be investigation into this waste of taxpayer money in Greensboro. As you know, DGI receives funding from taxpayers via a special levy on downtown properties. But more importantly, since 2005/6, it receives a portion of the city’s general sales tax revenues, which could otherwise be used to provide critical services to the citizens of the city.
Good stewardship of taxpayer money demands, and moral leadership on behalf of the people requires, that someone take action to remedy these circumstances.
The legislature tries to protect the citizens and all the City suggests is raising the tax rate.
The tax and spend elected and appointed officials are cheating with trickery.
Ora Pro Nobis.
Thanks, Fred, and yes, I agree 100%. There needs to be much greater oversight over the city of Greensboro, Guilford County and the Guilford County Schools system. They are all cocked and loaded to stick it to homeowners.