What’s the current state of Guilford County?
Well, let’s see. The county has taken on $2 billion in school bond debt in recent years that will stay with it for the next two decades; the commissioners have been throwing out raises and benefits to employees like people on floats in a Christmas parade throwing out candy to kids; and, of course, property owners in Guilford County are in many cases paying 25 to 30 percent more in taxes than they were before the 2022 revaluation of all property in the county.
That’s kind of depressing stuff, so don’t be surprised if the Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston focuses more on the positive things that are going on in the county when he delivers his “2024 State of the County Address” on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. at Union Square Campus in Greensboro.
In the past, the annual State of the Community address has been given from the commissioners’ meeting room on the second floor in the old Guilford County Court House in downtown Greensboro.
Alston’s remarks, according to advance notes provided by the county, will focus on the theme of “Ready, Set, Go!,” and will highlight “the county’s commitment and proactive efforts in enhancing service delivery, addressing community needs, and moving forward with renewed energy and purpose. Chairman Alston will also reflect on the county’s recent successes and outline key initiatives launched over the past year.”
Alston said recently that he hopes a lot of people come out or tune in to watch the speech and hear his positive vision of Guilford County and the successes of the current team of county leaders.
“Guilford County has made remarkable strides over the past year, and this year’s State of the County Address will highlight our unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant community,” Alston said of the upcoming address. “As One Guilford, we are preparing for the future, advancing strategic initiatives, and taking meaningful action to serve our residents. Guilford County is on the move—united, focused, and committed to creating a brighter future together.”
The State of the County address, which is usually well attended by community leaders, will bring together members of the Board of County Commissioners, county leadership, elected officials and other community leaders.
The program will take place in the auditorium on the first floor of Union Square Campus, with the speech starting promptly at 5 p.m.
The public can watch this year’s State of the County Address online through Guilford County’s Facebook page or using Zoom. Residents can register online to stream the program.
The tradition of an annual State of the County address began in 2017 when former Republican Commissioner Jeff Phillips, then chairman of the Board of Commissioners, delivered the county’s first-ever such address.
Phillips also held a press conference immediately after his State of the County speech, but that apparently is a practice that’s gone by the wayside over the years.
Mecklenburg County has had a State of the County address for years, as has Wake County. The decision several years ago to start having a similar address in Guilford County seems to have been a part of an effort by county staff and commissioners to create a more professional and polished image of Guilford County government.
Alston said last year that he was worried about using a teleprompter that the county’s Public Relations department convinced him to try, since he’d never used one before; however, later he decided he really liked using the device, so it’s likely he’ll use one again this year.
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The political Right represents the people, the political Left represents the state. That’s why fees, charges and taxes have increased massively since the Democrats got control of the County Commissioners. They take money away from the people (who earned it), and use it for themselves and their armies of parasites in government.
Simple. Nothing new here.
Hey skip, you made all that money selling hot dogs, and all that profit from your rental property not to mention all the taxpayers money you got for your downtown money pit, when are you personally going to step up to the plate and be like
Roy Carroll and send a donation to the relief efforts in WNC.
If Western NC were predominantly black, he would.
Skip and the truth? Sorry, they don’t mix. Positives and successes in Greensboro? High taxes, increased freebies, crime. Nothing here for the taxpayer. Ought to be a hoot. Wear your hip waders.
As Chairman Alston discusses the $2,000,000,000.00 bond let’s remember it’s oversite is by 4 Democrat members from the school board and 4 Democrat members on the county commissioners. The co-chairs are Skip Alston and Deena Hayes Green. If Guilford County wants Bipartisanship, then the public needs to turn out and vote. Early voting begins Oct 17th as we have seen in Western NC vote early because weather happens.
If God saw fit for you guys to run the county then it would be. I’m so glad those days are over and never coming back. How can anyone see new schools and raises for county employees as a bad thing. I’m glad this rag is the only thing republicans control in this county or we might be like WNC unprepared and lacking basic resources. But thank GOD we are not like them. And will never be
BigCity, new school buildings will not improve the transmission of knowledge and outcomes. Raising teachers’ pay will not improve outcomes. New schools are merely window dressing, covering up real problems. Hiring more government employees than are needed, using DEI in the selection process rather than merit, rewarding the government employees with higher pay because they are government employees, all this with taxpayer money, are not actions to be lauded. To equate western North Carolina ravaged by a weather event to decisions made purposedly by politicians shows how simpleminded your statements are.
Big city is like most democrats very slow and simple minded
Exactly.
Big City, The pages are turning but have no fear, my uncle Jim will be back in town soon and things will be back to normal
Once again Skip Alston (aka P.T. BARNUM) will attempt to put lipstick on a pig and sell it as a beauty queen. Malcolm Forbes once said “IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE WRONG, BE WRONG IN A LOUD VOICE”, and that is exactly what Skippy will be doing tomorrow.
I intend on getting the annotated version from Scott, here in the Rhino Times.
I’m not happy with our current state of the County and won’t support any of the current officials by attending this circus. For those that choose to, the Union Square Campus is at 124East Gate City Blvd., at the corner of Arlington Street, and is owned by the City Redevelopment Commission.
“State of the County”…??
Someone has delusions of grandeur.
Skip I read with amusement your comments in the fishwrap about meeting with local contractors to see what the county could do to help offset the cost of building affordable housing. I personally think a good place to start would be for YOU to stop fleecing the taxpayers for your downtown money pit. The money you taken over the past years would have gone a long way towards building homes. But have no fear KARMA is a bitch and it’s coming for you.
Skip & Earl’s Playplace.
They get about 100 visitors a year plus thousands of school kids they bus in to see the place. I grew up going to Woolworth’s in Winston-Salem. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all. I never cared who did or didn’t sit at the counter. I think most of us will agree that there’s places in certain parts of town even now that we wouldn’t sit at without being ridiculed, mugged, beaten, stabbed, shot, or even killed. Either you’re a racist SOB or you’re not. It has nothing to do with systemic this or that. If you don’t follow the golden rule, you are part of the problem. The longer people talk about it, the longer it will last. Skip has to have already earned his place in hell next to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, David Lane & Nathan Bedford Forrest. Credits earned from here on out are just a “bonus.”
Well said.