The proposed down payment assistance program called “Community Heroes,” which the City Council expressed many concerns about at the Oct. 27 work session, is on the agenda for the Tuesday, Dec. 5 City Council meeting.
It is expected that the down payment assistance program will be approved by the City Council despite the fact that the last time the program was discussed in public it met with overwhelming objections from councilmembers.
Councilmember Hugh Holston often compares the legislative process to “making sausage” and the fact that it isn’t pretty. It may not be pretty, but the public no longer gets to see the sausage being made. The program on the agenda is far different from the program proposed at the Oct. 27 work session and evidently those changes were made in one-on-one or small group meetings that are not subject to the North Carolina open meetings law.
There was a time when the City Council actually did work during work sessions, where compromises were proposed and differences resolved. On today’s City Council that is all done behind closed doors. The public gets to see the original proposal and the final product, but the “making sausage” portion of the process is down outside of the public’s view.
One major change in the program up for approval is that it only applies to employees of the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, those serving in the military and military veterans. The original proposal included employees of nonprofits and just about any employee who didn’t work in the private for-profit sector.
The proposed income restrictions have not changed. The Community Heroes program is for those making between 80 percent and 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). For a single person household that would cover someone whose income was between $40,901 to $61,300. For a four-person household the income requirements are from $58,400 to $87,600. For an eight-person household the income requirements are from $77,101 to $115,650.
So, the program could assist a household with an income of over $100,000 with up to $25,000 of down payment assistance to purchase a house in the City of Greensboro. The assistance is available to purchase a single-family detached dwelling, a townhome, a condominium or a manufactured home. But it is only available to those who don’t own other real estate and only for the primary residence.
Down payment assistance of up to $30,000 is available if the home is in a designated redevelopment area.
Was this the reason for the highest tax increase in the history of this city? This council certainly doesn’t have their ear to the concerns of it’s citizens. What a waste of tax payer money.
I am a hero. Despite no job, I managed the pay my property taxes at least one more time.
So can I get on the payment assistance program, like, soon?
I think it is clear who is running our City Council, and it certainly isn’t the mayor.
Do I understand this correctly? The county is taking my tax dollars which increased substantially this last year and giving to city and county employees to help them purchase a house? I struggle with how this is a good idea.k
You comperstand it 100%.
When will the city council stop wanting to spend money to get people to move to a city with one of the highest taxes in the country? That shows to me that they do not care about who the real losers are. They forgot they work for all the residents of Greensboro not just the ones they hope to get a vote from. This is so stupid that it does not take a 8th grader to figure out.
The voters had chances to throw the bums out, and didn’t do it. The LEFT got out the faithful, and some 15,000+ voters decided the whole game. So whose fault is it?
Apathetic and informed voters will be the end of the Republic. The population must get involved, our founding fathers knew that. You can also (dis)credit the Press, who is in the arms of the LEFT.
There goes more wasteful spending. How about taking care of all the citizens with a lower tax rate. Guess you don’t give a rip. Last time I checked, my taxes cover your salaries plus generous benefits plus all the waste and enabling programs you fund.
Well that went over like a lead balloon with me AND Others!
So this is a benefit for city employees but only for the ones that don’t own property? How do you offer a benefit for a group of employees but not to all? Another hair brain, random project to waist time and money. The employees qualify by having a job, like most of us, the next step is save enough and qualify for a loan. Lower cost housing options seem to be a much better use of funds that could benefit both citizens and city employees equally.
To those living under a municipal government which will spend money on itself like this, I am so sorry. It is like looking at the Federal government up close.
How can private industry even hope to compete against those taxpayer funded government jobs?
This is an example of social workers making decisions about your money and mine. Yet one more example of why “do-gooders” on the council can’t see the forest because of the trees.
All you Democrats in Greensboro got what you wanted by more taxes and more ways to spend your money and you keep giving and giving and keep complaining.How long are you going to put up with these Depsprnding your money recklessly? I would have voted every last one of them out at every election. The problem is not the city council it is the citizens of Greensboro. Put your foot down and vote everyone of them out to never lead your city again.
Not only are they messing with your money they are destroying your children’s by teaching this Wokeism ! Wake up people of Greensboro before it’s too late. You have already lost your college age now they are down in grammar school , are you going to lose them as well!!!!!!
Like so many things Council has done ….. when you look at the details, it’s illegal. My list is getting longer
“O ye of little faith” this has to apply to all people in Greensboro who are led by Democrats as little ones who are not capable of making a decision to fire someone. That someone is the city council when you had the chance to FIRE at midterms,did you fire any of them NO. You mention people that need a helping hand , will they get any help,probably not. As long as this town or any other that is led by all Democrats,it will NEVER succeed. The reason will be THEY want POWER and you don’t know the first thing about running your life. You will always be paying more,more,and more taxes and water bills as long as you live. There are reasons big companies do not want to move to the Greensboro area .