Guilford County government was going to have a tight budget even before the coronavirus hit.
However, even with the pandemic-created economic picture now being painted, Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Jeff Phillips pledged that there will be no property tax increase under his watch when the county adopts its fiscal 2020-2021 budget in June.
Phillips, who was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2012, has never voted for a property tax increase. In that same year, the voters of Guilford County changed the Board of Commissioners from a longtime Democratic-majority board, one that raised taxes almost every year, to a Republican-led board, and, ever since that change, the Board of Commissioners has never once voted to increase taxes.
Guilford County now has several multimillion-dollar projects underway and the county has been hit this spring with surprise losses in sales tax revenue, property tax revenue and investment revenue – however, like Phillips, the other Republicans on the board seem committed to keeping the majority’s reputation on tax increases pure.
“No, no, we’re not having any tax increase,” Phillips said adamantly when asked the question point blank.
Phillips, who’s stepping down from his seat on the board in December, is only one vote of nine; however, each year the budget is called “the chairman’s budget” because the chairman has such a great say in the final product.
The four other Republican commissioners on the board have also never voted for a tax increase – all five Republicans have stuck together each June at budget time.
For years, County Manager Marty Lawing and former Budget Director Mike Halford have subtly – and, at times, not so subtly – suggested to the commissioners that Guilford County needs a property tax increase, however, they haven’t gotten that wish in the past and it doesn’t look like it will happen in the coming 2020-2021 budget that’s now just around the corner.
No wonder people choose to live in the county, if they can. I would move, but the costs would be more than I would save over a long period of time. Always live below your means, or, “neither a borrower nor lender be”.
President Coolidge never owned a house until after he left office. From 1921 to 1928, he reduced the Federal budget by 40%. Read a book, somebody!
Let’s get the facts straight . Mr Phillips and the other 4 republicans did vote for a tax increase for some Guilford Country residents a few years back. They made a back room deal to raise the fire tax. While in public they claimed they gave people a property tax decrease.
The statistics bear out that since we voted in the 5 Republicans there has not been a year that taxes have been raised .I like that sound in my pocket ‘ Ching-Ching.Now on the flip side you got Skip Coleman And other Dems just Chomping at the bit to be in the majority and start raising taxes..I think it would be just to vote off one or two Dems and have A Super Majotity..I can’t for understand why the city has all their confusion and raid taxes almost every year. I have just seen the light ,Every member of that board is a Dem ,that is why their is so much tax raising (even the mayor is a Dem) total board.