If you doubt that the City of Greensboro is flush with funds, the City Council work session on Thursday, March 16 in the Plaza Level Conference Room offers additional proof.
The program that was tentatively approved by the City Council is to give up to $250,000 in property tax refunds to low income property owners, because the revaluation for 2022 property taxes increased by an average of 30 percent. This is the equivalent of over an 8-cent increase in the property tax rate.
At the March 16 work session, the City Council agreed to grant refunds to low income property owners in Greensboro who were adversely affected by the tremendous increase in their property tax bill. Low income was defined as $41,000 or below for a single person household and $47,000 or below for a household of two or more people and the home must have a tax value of less than $250,000.
Those who meet the qualifications would be limited to a refund equal to the difference in the property tax bill paid in 2021 and the one paid in 2022.
Assistant City Manager Larry Davis said, “We’d like to cut it off at $250,000.”
Davis explained that the city was attempting to initiate this new tax refund program with the current staff and if the city received requests for much more than $250,000 in tax refunds, additional staff would likely have to be hired.
Davis said, “We don’t want to create a program that costs $200,000 to refund $250,000.”
Mayor Nancy Vaughan noted that the refunds would only be available for a primary residence.
Councilmember Sharon Hightower objected to the fact that those applying for the Greensboro property refund would have to provide the city with their income tax return to prove they met the income requirements.
Hightower also objected to a provision that a person would only be eligible if they owned the property and paid the property taxes themselves. Hightower asked if she paid her mother’s property taxes, if her mother met the income requirements, would she be eligible for a refund and was told no.
Those who participate in the county program to reduce property taxes for low income property owners would also not be eligible for the city program. The county program covers both county and city property taxes while the city program only covers city of Greensboro property taxes.
City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba said that the city could move forward with the program without a vote by the City Council but would provide the council with updates.
Vaughan said that she wanted the City Council to approve the new tax refund program by a recorded vote at a regular City Council meeting “to keep it clean and transparent.”
The new tax refund program is item I.4 on at the Tuesday, March 21 City Council meeting agenda.
At times it takes months to have an item added to the City Council agenda. However, if it is an item that city staff wants added to the agenda it can be done in a matter of days.
How about a tax refund for all citizens? Another SNAFU as usual by the east greensboro city council.
Let me see if I have this right. The city imposed a 30% tax increase. That was too much for some people, so the city decided to allow those poor people to get a refund. The refund is coming from the citizens in Greensboro who pay their taxes. I think that all the citizens of Greensboro should receive the a refund, rather than giving our money away. I repeat. IT IS OUR MONEY, NOT THE CITY COUNCILS.
So Hightower wants to just give out the $ with no restrictions presumably only to people on the east side. How can you prove income without a tax return? I’ll be shocked if they hand any of this $ out since most people with that income rent.
This is not fair to the seniors on fixed income. We struggle to make ends meet everyday. I do fell bad about the low income families, but we senior struggle also. $700 on top of what I paid last year is a big chunk of my income. Please up the income or down charge seniors as much.
Totally agree. I have lived in Guilford County for almost 30 years. Been in my current home for 21 years and estimate that I have paid between $65,000 – $75,000 in Guilford County property taxes. I do not recall ever receiving a single individual service for any of that money. Now, I am almost 70 years old, a widower, and retired on what I managed to save (far from rich), and my social security check. My intentions were to age in place as long as possible and enjoy the home I bought and paid for. It has been a struggle at times, but I managed. Now between inflation and a 30%+ increase in property taxes, it appears that may no longer be possible.
Really, a bone to the lower income groups. $47,000 is lower income? A lot of people live on that.
Just cut the effing tax rate.
Why not a refund across the board to all taxpayers then no staff or accountability involved just apply this equally To ALL taxpayers. Hell some council members don’t own property so it doesn’t affect them. Without the council they would not even have a job. We as a country are a Democrat Republic,will all the council please read the definition of what that means and realize a day of reckoning is coming
Property tax refunds should be refunded on an equal basis to all property owners. All property owners receive same services from city snd should not be required to pay more just because the new city manager decides they should. Time for him to go.
This is to patricia casdorph yeah sure all property owners receive same service but funny how on the west side of the city they have everything from grocery stores to shopping and on the east there is nothing like that so please explain this to me!!!! Sorry but I see why they are giving low income people the money definitely.
Stores go where people will spend money.
You’re right Patricia, but the new city manager behaves like a Marxist because he is a Marxist.
Dumb and dumber!
The city has a tax rate. The owners of property must pay tax. We paid what the council said we must pay, that is , those who have paid their taxes thus far. We should all be treated the same. Does the city laws have exceptions’? The rules should be in place before you collect the taxes. new rules should be made to be enforced to cover future business, not changed after the fact.
As we saw last week in this paper, lots of people have not paid their taxes. It looks like a lot of money. When will the tax laws be enforced? So now the city has enough money to refund taxes to special cases and allow others to not pay their taxes because they don’t want to meet deadlines.
Is this a government or a mutual aid society.
City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba said that the city could move forward with the program without a vote by the City Council but would provide the council with updates…. I find this very disturbing unelected officials can give money away without approval of city council ?
Just another way of income redistribution.
How will these folks prove that they are edible for this refund? Just another fleecing of the tax payer. Hope all that did not vote last year remember this next election. THIS IS A WOKE SOCIALIST COUNCIL!
Either treat ALL the property owners of Guilford County the SAME or YOU stupid idiots will be SUED for more millions than this RACIAL town will ever be able to collect EVER again. This behavior is NOT your decision to make. Its time this illegal behavior be STOPPED!!! WHO is going to make the decisions as to who gets the refund? Be sure to name their names. THIS IS ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So because I chose to get an education, which I paid for by working the entire time, I have a decent job, I do not get a refund of the property taxes that went up 30% FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY….not just the low income people. My house payment had to go up because my escrow had to go up. I don’t live in a mansion and I pay my bills month to month with only a little bit left. If there is an unexpected expense, I have to figure out how to pay for it. I am white and I live on the west side. I’m sorry Sharon Hightower but white middle class people also had to bear the burden of your tax increase. I’m sick and tired of the white middle class being ignored in this City. If you are black and low income…no worries, we will give you everything. If you are white and rich, no worries we will rezone any property for you to tear up and develop. If you are white and middle class….screw you. Pay up.
I think the City of Greensboro should set up a “come by and get your free money booth”, in downtown Greensboro. This should be for All Property Owner’s, regardless of income. Don’t you think the City should fair? What a bunch of crap.
Don’t have much sympathy for the Law Abiding and Taxpaying Citizen’s in Greensboro less than 20% of them voted in our recent elections! They deserve this Circus of Clowns we have running and destroying this once fine City! Greensboro will probably never recover as these fools are allowed to waste, give away, and frivolously spend your money!
Everyone living or working pays city and county property taxes. Yourself, or the businesses you patronize. Stop for gas while passing through the County, you are paying the merchant to pay the property tax.
People who vote for the clowns in our local govt are just plain ignernt.