The Guilford County Board of Commissioners was so busy in June finding money for things like donations to pet-project non-profits that the commissioners are tightly connected with, giving money to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum and funding the county’s new and expanding Public Relations Department and MWBE Department, that they were forced to leave some fairly trivial and non-essential items out of the new budget, such as having ambulances and Emergency Service vehicles that don’t break down.
The seven Democrats on the board agree that it would be nice to have a fleet of reliable vehicles to rush to emergencies and rush dying patients back to the hospital; however, money doesn’t grow on trees, so, when it came down to funding MWBE initiatives, hiring county image spin doctors or funding the Historic Jamestown Society and the Junior Aggies programs, well that choice was easy for the Democrats.
On the nine-member board dominated by Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston and six other Democratic commissioners, the board’s two Republican commissioners – Alan Perdue and Pat Tillman – usually don’t get a lot of say in matters.
However, after the new 2024-2025 fiscal county budget included money for all sorts of things – by, amazingly, cutting money needed to keep the county’s fleet of Emergency vehicles up to date – Perdue argued frequently in the process that it might in fact be a good idea for Guilford County to pay what it cost to have emergency vehicles that are likely to actually make it to the scene of the emergency and back to the hospital without breaking down.
Perdue and Tillman did vote for the county budget, but they both made it clear that night that there were serious public safety issues they intended to see addressed and that they did not agree with some of the priorities.
Perdue, who was the longtime director of Guilford County Emergency Services before being elected to a seat on the Board of Commissioners, is an expert in public safety who ran the department for years and now flies around the country teaching best practices to other Emergency Services and public safety officials.
So, Perdue insisted that the matter be addressed by the board, and, at a Thursday afternoon July 18 work session, he spoke passionately on a subject to some commissioners who at first seemed hesitant to find the money.
He finally convinced them to find about $5 million to help bring the Emergency Services fleet up to date and buy some vehicles that will have a good chance of making it to emergencies without mechanical problems.
Perdue told the other commissioners at the work session that it’s not like the county really saves money by not funding emergency fleets – because you have to update the fleet anyway eventually and, when you do, it will cost even more money to restock that even worse off fleet of vehicles.
But Perdue’s most powerful point had little to do with money.
He said that if the county continued, as the budget called for, for the Emergency Services Department to continue to rely on older and older vehicles, they would at some point break down while on the way to save lives or on the way back to the hospital to save lives.
“It’s not a question of if it will happen,” Perdue told the other commissioners, “it is a question of when.”
He added that it was also “a question of risk management” and there seemed to be an implication that the county could find itself on the wrong side of a very ugly lawsuit if someone died because the county refused to keep its Emergency Services vehicles up to date.
It might not be that problematic if a county health services employee on the way to a water well inspection has a car that breaks down, but, when it comes to emergencies where often many lives are at risk, then you need fast, sturdy, relatively new, highly reliable vehicles.
It is at least as important as a Jamestown Historic Society presentation at the local library.
In the end, Perdue got the votes he needed for the board to agree to pay the money to buy new emergency vehicles and the commissioners are getting the money from, where else, the county’s savings account.
Thank you Mr Perdue for looking out for us !!
It is called “Commom Sense””. Thank God we have two people that try to use it and protect the taxpayer. Not the pet project and free loaders.
Since when were Democrats concerned about public safety? That doesn’t buy votes in this county much less the country.
Well done Alan
Good job Mr Perdue! The kind of leadership the county needs.
You will get that type of leadership, for the whole country, on Nov 5, 2024 if you vote RED! Just like Perdue, the republicans care about you and this great country!
Alan Perdue, just doing his job ( unlike so many others!)
Democrats could care less about you. Democrats worship your vote.
Heck, Republicans don’t even care about votes. They will storm the capitol to keep power even when the votes say they lost.
Chris, if the only way that can be won is by cheating, the winner did not win. Even a simple-minded person can figure out that the election in 2020 was rigged. The people gathered at the capital in 2020 instinctively knew the election was stolen by cheating.
Chris If Democrats don’t win they will start burn down our cities again.
The mismanagement of taxpayer money is ridiculous. Is anyone tracking the relationships of board members to the organizations being funded year after year? Anyone auditing them or pursuing private donations in lieu of tax dollars? If no private citizens are willing to pony up their own money then the Board needs to consider that, in fact, the public does not consider these services to be critical. If money isn’t available for Emergency Management services, it certainly shouldn’t be given away to groups who can sponsor their own fundraising events. I’m an Independent who usually leans Democrat but I have had it with this board.
These people do not care about us. I realize the history of the International Civil Rights Museum but how much money does it take to fund a lunch counter. Skippy is involved in that shenanigan so now it all makes sense.
Needs vs wants
Pretty work Sir.
Well, you do get what you vote for! Think about that when you vote on Nov 5, 2024!
Alan and Pat,
I thank you for fighting for the citizens of Guilford County, but my question to you is why did you vote to approve this sham of a budget which included $1.7 million in handouts to favored misnamed ‘non-profits’ instead of taking care of ALL the citizens of the county.
Yes the budget would have still passed because of the (National Socialist) Democrat Party majority but you could have at least made it known on, the record, that you believe our elected ‘representatives’ are taking a stand for US, the people you are supposed to be representing.
Citizens of Guilford County, I listed where that $1.7 million went. Look at the list. I defy ANYONE to show me where there is ONE group that is more critical then the safety and welfare in the form of functional emergency vehicles then them.
Citizens of Guilford County, if/when (God forbid) you or a loved one can’t get emergency services in time because of a lack of resources remember where YOUR tax dollars went thanks to the (NS)DP members of the Board of Commissioners.
Wake up people! I don’t know what rock some of you are living under, but this isn’t a “good job” for any of them. This, and similar things, have been planned & orchestrated by these politicians. Skip has done this numerous times over the years. Intentionally hold something of value until just after the start of the new budget, and then miraculously everyone gets on board and supports the “oversight.” It’s hell for the poor county manager, but it looks good in headlines, on the six o’clock news & makes people associate something positive with those pulling the strings because it appears that everyone is working together to solve an imaginary problem. Democrats in particular absolutely love to create a problem so that it can appear like they come up with a solution to work hard and fix it. Rest assured, it’s definitely “fixed.”
Conservatives scream bout 0.17% of the budget allocated to nonprofits as if that is what is bad about the budgets. It isn’t like the board said “don’t give $5 million to emergency vehicles so we can give 1.5 in small increments to non-profits”.
Just more conservative drama as a deflection from the real issues. Yawn.
Chris, there you go again. It is not about the amount of money. It is about giving taxpayer money to nonprofits, period. Review the list of the organizations that received tax dollars. How many of those nonprofits benefit the whole community? A school booster club? Really? All nonprofits are not charities. Most nonprofits benefit few people. Considering the booster club, who benefits from the booster club? Certainly not the community at-large, yet the money is taken from all property taxpayers. I could go on, but the point is all nonprofits are not charities. With the passage of the revenue tax law in 1954, 501(c)(3) was born. Now 501(c)(4) nonprofits enjoy the benefit of tax-exempt status but more importantly to the 501(c)(4), the non-profit can engage in unlimited lobbying. No taxpayer money to nonprofits regardless of the amount. NAACP is a 501(c)(4).
Don’t forget that boondoggle downtown that has very close ties to…to…oh, who is that that’s Chairman of the Board of Commissioners again…what’s his name…oh yeah, Skip Alston.
I disagree with your point of view. Not all programs have to help all people. I support programs that help the homeless and I am not homeless for example.
Many nonprofits ask for help from government for a range if reasons. Some are start ups and need a boost, others provide a critical service for those in the community in place of government programs or fill the gaps in government programs (Big Brother Big Sisters for example). Some are important to the city for historical reasons (civil rights museum for example or Carolina theater for example)
I don’t have to agree with all of the groups on the list but I can appreciate that they all work flin some way or for the benefit of the community. So less than a 1/4 of one percent goes a long way to reach people in need, supporting our community, and preserving history. I am ok with that.
Note I also don’t buy the position that these contributions had anything to do with emergency vehicles and it disingenuous to imply that it did.
I’m curious about something Chris, you say you’re ok with ILLEGALS crossing the border but because you can’t speak their language you won’t bring them to your “farm”, you believe government should take care of the homeless but YOU won’t bring them to your “farm”and give them shelter and now you support all of the nonprofits the county jgave money to this year, Just how many did YOU and yours write a check to last year.
I have never said I am ok with illegals crossing the border. I am a big proponent of changing the immigration law that would make it illegal to declare asylum if caught crossing the border illegally.
I am ok the President following the current laws that does allow immigrants to declare asylum even if caught illegally. Because following the law is what real leaders do while they try to change the law. Too bad conservatives put party before country and blocked real immigration law change.
But you be you.
And Chris you be you. I’ll say this you are such a lying hypocrite and so full of crap I am betting your eyes are brown
There is little, if any, oversight of nonprofits. Nonprofits are made for grifters. Are you fine with huge retirement facilities being designated as nonprofits? They service few individuals at the expense of all taxpayers. Some retirement facilities try to show a charitable side to keep their tax-free status by allowing a meeting or two at their facilities or allowing a blood drive on property. Some even compete against the private sector through daycare and such. This is nowhere comparable to the tax-free benefits received, including tax-exemption from sales taxes. As far as the Woolworth museum, what is the amount in donations does the museum receive from the public compared with donations received from government, big doners donating to keep Skip Alston away and on the favorable side of the NAACP? When was the last time there was any real audit by the state or federal government? Never? You are correct about helping all people, but it does need to serve the community as a whole. As far as nonprofits saving the government money, can you say billions going to Ukraine? Charity begins at home.
If it makes retirement homes easy to afford for the elderly, sure I am for retirement homes being declared non-profits as afford elderly care is a public good for sure.
Thanks for asking.
Do you really believe that these large retirement facilities are affordable? How about an entry fee of $500,000+. What retiree can afford that? What world do you live in? You need to get out more often and stop spending time spouting liberal ideas. You may not care that your tax money is going to subsidize well-heeled living, but taxpayers should care. All charities are nonprofits but not all nonprofits are charities. Retirement facilities are not charities. They cost a lot of buy-in money and a lot of ongoing monthly fees. I do not want to subsidize the Woolworth museum and I do not want to subsidize retirement facilities, including one that a Greensboro Councilwoman lives in. Property taxes are higher because retirement facilities do not pay property taxes. When you pay your property taxes this year, remember as you write your check, your taxes are higher because of the leeches who do not pay, including the Woolworth museum and retirement facilities and other nonprofits. Isn’t government great?
“I disagree with your point of view. Not all programs have to help all people. I support programs that help the homeless and I am not homeless for example.”
So where is the taxpayer money for programs like Tunnel to Towers, or Wounded Warrior Project, or other programs like them? Oh, that’s right, they receive large donations because the very large percentage of their donations, 93% according to records on T2T for example, go to what they are there to do. I wonder why that is?
Here’s an idea…give EVERY non-profit, regardless how small, tax deductible status, otherwise those that don’t have that status don’t get government funding. Otherwise they are basically getting twice the donation. Also, what about those organizations I DON’T want to support. By giving them that government handout, I am being FORCED to support them regardless of my desire to support or not support them.
“Note I also don’t buy the position that these contributions had anything to do with emergency vehicles and it disingenuous to imply that it did.”
No, it’s not disingenuous. Under what I propose that money would go to other places like oh say emergency services
or maybe back in the taxpayer’s pocket. Then they can decide who to support and for how much.
Another place to cut might be these “professional politicians” salaries they receive. Reimburse their expenses WITH APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION. After all, they are volunteering to work for the People, not augment there real salaries. Remember, they are ASKING to hold this office. I did for 12 years and didn’t receive a dime. It’s called serving the people. I learned that from Howard Coble.
You again pretend to be angry as if Wounded Warriors asked for funds and were denied. If you are host of a wounded warriors’ program, submit an ask. I suspect that a big difference in the couple of charities you mention is that they are national charities versus local non-profits.
I had assumed all non-profits received tax free status on contributions (revenue). Do they not? I really am unable to make sense of your rant about twice the donation….. Giving non-profits who receive tax free status some contributions make sense to me for the reasons I noted in my comment.
You are free to not support the giving of contributions from local budgets to non-profits. Just as I am free to disagree. I believe the best place to cut is state and local pension plans. The private sector gave those type of expense programs up decades ago. I suggest it is time the public sector do the same.
The pay scale for the whole city and County fire department needs to be revisited.
When these people are at the fire station doing absolutely nothing they should be paid a minimum wage when a call comes in raise their pay to an escalated wage because then they are actually working.
They shouldn’t be able to check in at 8 o’clock in the morning and then jump on the big pink firetruck and go eat breakfast together, they should do like every other employee eat breakfast before they leave home in the morning or on the way to work. Taxpayers not have to pay them while they’re eating breakfast. This is just more abuse of the taxpayers dollars
I am not a fireman, but I imagine that firemen engage in community outreach programs; inspections, which I believe can be requested by an individual if there are concerns about fire safety at their home; and building inspections. If there were no on duty firemen, what we would have is a voluntary fire department, which would not fit in with a large population. Firemen also respond to traffic accidents and life-threatening situations not directly related to a fire.
Greensboro was too good too long. GREENSBORO NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP.