Guilford County Could Face Property Tax Increases after Voters Reject Sales Tax Hike

Guilford County voters sent a strong message to government officials. But no one seems to be listening.

Last November, both homeowners and renters alike said no to a quarter-cent sales tax increase in Guilford County, North Carolina.

This was the third time in recent history that county officials attempted to increase the sales tax through a ballot initiative.

But homeowners from Greensboro to High Point weren’t taking the bait.

Among the reasons voters turned down the increase was a strong belief that the county simply wasn’t doing enough to control spending.

Others felt that during the poor economy that this was not the right time to pursue a sales tax increase.

County officials had the usual responses that show just how out of touch with the voters government has become.

One official made the argument that the sales tax increase should have passed because of a recent study that suggested that up to 40% of the sales tax is paid by visitors to Guilford County who live somewhere else – therefore much of the sales tax would be paid by non-residents, not local residents.

Another county commissioner stated that raising the sales tax was a good idea, but expressed disappointment that the campaign to sell the tax increase to the voters didn’t start far enough in advance of the election.

But the icing on the cake goes to the Chairman of the Guilford County Commission who viewed the sales tax ballot initiative as a way for voters to communicate whether their preference was for a sales tax or a property tax increase! This official felt that even though the sales tax increase was defeated, the election result meant that county residents simply preferred a property tax increase over a sales tax increase.

Some of these puzzling statements may have something to do with the fact that Guilford County commissioners might have to go without taxpayer funded meals when they meet on Thursday nights in the future.

It appears likely that the net result of voters defeating the sales tax increase on the ballot is that Guilford County property taxes could increase in the near future. Even with budget cuts and county commissioners being forced to cut back on taxpayer funded meals, there is still a significant revenue shortfall.

If you live in Greensboro or elsewhere in Guilford County, don’t wait around for higher property tax bills. Use ValueAppeal to keep your property tax assessment as low as possible.