ElectionsFriday, November 6
Guilford County voters approve a quarter-cent sales tax after seven rejections
The Daily Greensboro team
Guilford County voters finally said yes. After seven tries since 2008, the quarter-cent sales tax passed Tuesday with 129,732 votes to 76,669, and the Rhino Times reports the unofficial split was 63% to 37%.
Guilford voters passed the sales tax by 53,063 votes
Unofficial results, all precincts reporting
Guilford County quarter-cent sales tax
Passed: the line at 50%
Sources: Greensboro News and Record, The Rhino Times
View as table
| Race | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford County quarter-cent sales tax | For, won | 129,732 | 62.9% |
| Guilford County quarter-cent sales tax | Against | 76,669 | 37.1% |
This time the ballot could say where the money goes, thanks to a change in state law. Chairman Skip Alston told the Rhino Times that's why it passed, and he expects the tax to bring in north of $30 million a year.
- Rate: 6.75% to 7%, or 25 cents more on a $100 purchase at the general rate
- Exempt: fuel, vehicles, groceries, medications
- Canvass: Fri., Nov. 13
- Still ahead: commissioners must vote to levy it
Alston said experienced teachers were leaving for neighboring counties where they could make "another five, six thousand dollars a year." Separately, commissioners on Thursday approved an extra $5.8 million in mid-year funding for the schools, mostly for raises for locally funded employees.
Teacher pay gets $20.2 million of the new tax
Source: Greensboro News and Record
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Teacher pay | $20.2 million |
| Rural fire districts | $5.3 million |
| GTCC | $2.2 million |
| Five towns | $1.3 million |