The Greensboro City Council likes to compare Greensboro to other large cities in the state when it makes Greensboro, or more importantly the City Council, look good.
However, the City Council complains bitterly when that comparison is made regarding property tax rates. The comparisons of property tax rates are said to be unfair because, according to the City Council, no two cities are alike. The same could be said about any comparison with any city, but for employee salaries (other than police salaries), water rates and other matters where Greensboro looks good, the comparisons are considered meaningful.
Take Cary, one of the fastest growing cities in the state with a population, according to the US Census Bureau, of over 180,000. A comparison with Cary actually makes more sense than a comparison with Charlotte, which has a population of over 897,000 – or almost three times the size of Greensboro, at just over 301,000.
Cary is not raising property taxes this year, didn’t raise property taxes last year and the property tax rate is 34.5 cents compared to Greensboro currently at 63.25, and projected to increase to 67.25 this year – nearly twice that of Cary.
Durham, which is also growing much faster than Greensboro, is essentially the same size with a population of just under 292,000. While Durham has about 9,000 fewer people, its projected budget for 2023-2024 is $610 million compared to $749 million for Greensboro. Durham is projecting no property tax increase this year and currently has a property tax rate of 55.77 cents – almost 10 cents lower than the projected tax rate for Greensboro.
Plus, both Durham and Cary pay their police officers more than Greensboro.
Durham provides its citizens with city services and pays police officers more for $139 million less per year than Greensboro.
Maybe Greensboro should study how Durham and Cary provide services at a much lower property tax rate than Greensboro.
And certainly someone should take a look at how Durham, a city the same size as Greensboro, growing at more than twice the rate of Greensboro, manages to operate on $139 million less each year.
I don’t defend GSO, but Durham and Cary tax rates can probably be a little lower than GSO because their property values are likely higher. Nevertheless, assuming the budgets for Durham and GSO essentially equal the tax receipts, we are overtaxed.
Just look at the makeup of our city council. If you are in the right district and of the right political leaning and the proper color, you have nothing to worry about. The other people in the other districts will be paying for your taxes and services.
Sir this city is 42% black and growing their are no other districts we occupy this city from the Cardinal to Forest oaks stop with the nonsense
Is that Ebonics? I just don’t understand it. Did you flunk English?
Just to show the Greensboro over spending problem isn’t that they are democrats, Cary and Durham boards are heavily weighted by Democrats as well. It is a problem with Greensboro’s Mayor and City manager. No question.
John John John you should know by the council’s standards you are comparing apples to oranges Stop wasting your time.
INCOMPETENT Leadersin Greensboro. Plus the locals have to much give seats to people who are not deserving. Almost anyone can get money from the city cou . Also if you anre involved with at least one person to provide guidance like the one person on the board who gets several hundred thousand to spend. They give money away like it grew on trees.
I have said broth at there is no one on the board who has had any training into a monthly budget and how to live by it. I often wonder how they are at home with their budget.
The way to solve the problem is to fire all 9 of these council members and vote in all with Conservatives Republicans who could solve these problems.
I remember that Greensboro votes for Democrats all the time because they like the tax increases and water rate increases almost every year.
The difference tween Cary, Durham and Greensboro is the other two cities know how to budget .Greensboro doesn’t know and does not care about the disadvantages that you have.
When is enough,enough. Wake-up Greensboto and vote out these Leeches while you can , they are all BAD.
John, Durham has educated council members, not racist council members.
John, John, John…
How could you make such an unfair comparison. GSO has so many more hands out then those others How else could the Imperial City Council stay in power without them.
While there is so much to say about this…..there really isn’t. Durham is a great place! Greensboro is an over taxed, poorly run, dangerous City. There was a time when we were great, but no more. The Manager’s budget proposal with tax increases, water rate increases, higher development fees, etc is a laugh. Our City Manager is not qualified. Look at his background. Our Council is a joke. We were a Great Place to Live. Now we are a divided City that is dangerous and has poor City services. Our Council doesn’t care anymore about the people.
While there is so much to say about this…..there really isn’t. Durham is a great place! Greensboro is an over taxed, poorly run, dangerous City. There was a time when we were great, but no more. The Manager’s budget proposal with tax increases, water rate increases, higher development fees, etc is a laugh. Our City Manager is not qualified. Look at his background. Our Council is a joke. We were a Great Place to Live. Now we are a divided City that is dangerous and has poor City services. Our Council doesn’t care anymore about the people.
Durham will have the highest murder rate in the state despite being the 4th largest city
So Durham is smaller!
Not much. Greensboro is at 301,000 and Durham at 292,000. At the present growth rates Durham will pass Greensboro in population long before the next census.
At current growth rates greensboro is adding about 2 more people a day then we did the last decade we have also brought more jobs and housing. I’m surprised we even held onto third we literally got nothing accomplished under split governance.
When I chose Greensboro as my new home in 1983, the population was 153,000 in the 1980 Census, and it was the second largest NC city (after Charlotte).
People said that last census
You are a racist for pointing this out.
It’s a prediction not fact especially considering Durham is on track for their most violent year on record
Historically, for many years Greensboro’s tax rate would fall in the .56/100 range, and increase up to roughly .62/100 over each 8 year revaluation period. When it was reset following revaluation the rate would drop back to the .56/100 range and the process would repeat itself. As a result, property taxes remained relatively stable.
Around 2012 when revaluation occurred the Greensboro budget did not drop the rate back as before, but left it around .63, from which it has continued to grow. A need for good business sense still exists on the City Council.
If residents of Greensboro feel overtaxed now just wait and see how your property values decline over the next few years compared to the spike in values just at the time the revaluation took place. Great for the government but disaster for taxpayers.
After the last election, I have decided that the voters in GSO are happy with a Socialist Woke Council that will tax the citizens higher and higher. They will spend tax payer money like a Drunk Train Robber. They will continue to fund whatever East Greensboro wants without objection. They will continue to pay Matt Brown to manage the money pit on Highpoint Rd and the soon to be Tanger money pit. They hide 400K buying a gun show and the voters did not flinch. Council members are given tax payer money for so called charities, They are defunding the police a little at a time, so you better arm yourself. If you do not agree with them you are MAGA or a racist. Council member(s) live in non profit retirement facilities that pay NO city or county taxes but they vote on how your tax money is spent. Council meetings are a shame, decisions are made before the meeting.
Next year we will be 300 officers short when they don’t get a raise.. then what?