If you go into the grocery store and get sticker shock when you look at the price of eggs, well, those aren’t the only prices that are going up in the area.
Guilford County Manager Mike Halford and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners like to point out that the just adopted 2024-2025 budget has no increase in the property tax rate; however, what they don’t call attention to is that, effective Monday, July 1, 2024 – when the new budget goes into effect – those who use a wide variety of county services will see the fees associated with those services go up, in some cases a great deal.
For instance, do you like to go out to Bur-Mil Park and hit some golf balls on the driving range? Well, in the new fiscal year, that will cost you 50 percent more for a small basket of balls – which will increase from $4 to $6 – while a large basket, which currently costs $6, will run you $8 starting July 1.
If pickleball is your game of choice, well, it too is going to cost you more if you play on county-owned courts.
The cost of renting a pickleball court – one court, per hour– is moving up from $12 to $15.
Also, the county didn’t previously offer the rental of a pickleball court by the day, however, there’s a new $150 fee in the fiscal 2024-2025 county budget’s fee schedule if you want to do that.
Speaking of things you can do at county parks, the fee for a full day of swimming by an adult is increasing from $5 to $6. Halford’s budget originally called for that price hike to go into effect on July 1; however, the Guilford County commissioners brought up the fact that they didn’t want pool users to be hit with the price change right in the middle of the summer swim season. So that’s the only county fee increase adopted this year that goes into effect on January 1 of next year rather than on July 1 of this year.
After July 1, if you file a rezoning appeal case with the county it will cost you 50 percent more than it has in the past. That fee is moving from $500 to $750.
The cost of renaming a road will nearly quadruple: It will go from the current price of $100 to $385.
The fee increases are meant to help generate more revenue; however, several fee increases in the budget are almost certain to cost the county money rather than save money based on numerous studies and the advice of animal welfare experts.
Guilford County built the new animal shelter with a capacity that was less than the old shelter, and the argument that county officials used at the time was that they would have more programs to adopt out the animals quickly. It is not the fault of Animal Services Director Jorge Ortega, who asked for a large shelter years ago and was told by a former Board of Commissioners to come back to them with a much less expensive slimmed-down version.
Given the constant over-crowding of the shelter and the large costs of feeding, housing and providing medical care for the animals in the shelter, it’s somewhat astounding that Halford and the Board of Commissioners are throwing up financial barriers to adoption at a time when many people who would like to adopt pets are watching every dollar. It’s baffling that the county is tripling the price of adopting cats from $25 to $75 and raising the cost of adopting a dog in Guilford County from $50 to $75.
Due to the elasticity of demand, that’s going to mean that there are fewer adoptions and more animals left in the shelter. Those are animals the county must continue paying to take care of, feed and keep providing medical care. The Board of Commissioners did thankfully have the good sense to oppose Halford’s effort to raise the cost of adopting senior cats from $10 to $50 as well as Halford’s attempt to raise the cost of adopting senior dogs.
Guilford County Commissioner Pat Tillman made the point at a budget work session that a lot of older people on fixed incomes would like to adopt a pet for companionship, but they may be dissuaded from doing so by the large jump in adoption fees that Halford wanted to see implemented.
If you hold a special event after July 1, and you want an Emergency Services crew to be there, that will cost you more in fiscal 2024-2025.
The “Standby Special Event” fee for an EMS unit and crew is increasing from $150 per hour to $200 per hour. The cost of each extra EMS worker will go from $60 to $ 75.
Here are some, but not all, of the other fees that Guilford County is increasing on July 1…
Commercial Trade Permit Fees
- Building – from $40 to $75
- Electrical – from $40 to $75
- Plumbing – from 40 to $75
- Mechanical – from $40 to $75
- Fuel Piping– from $40 to $ 75
(Trade Permit Fees for residential building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel piping and gas logs are also all going up from $40 to $75.)
Other fee increases include…
- Minor Site Plan Review (per plan)– moving from $100 to $175.
- Subdivision Plat Review – (per plat, base fee) is moving from $150 to $ 200.
You can see the complete list of fee increases in the newly adopted county budget that is on the county’s website.
And you thought the County Commissars were going to give us a break. Silly you
Horrible. Just unfriendly. UGH!
It is no wonder that contractors do not want to bid on projects in the city or county.
Charge more for those that must transact business or use the facilities of the county so that more can be given to those whose vote is wanted. Is is a sad fact.
Stop giving away the money collected form taxes so that the tax payers can keep some of their earned money.
Inflation is killin us!
Well Scott, a pretty sad and dire report but one that could be expected by this group of commisioners. Tax and spend more with reduced services….sounds similiar to the city council mantra. For the citizens who continue to vote for the same old same old, you got what you derseve. Enjoy your high taxes and paying more for less.
Anyone who is surprised by this is either not paying attention or STUPID . These people are totally out of control and aren’t held accountable for ANYTHING. This is not the area I grew up in and I’ve lived my whole 65 years here. It’s a crying damn shame.
I understand over 50% of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Dept. has either been fired, resigned, or retired since Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers took office? What has happened to all those County Budget savings? Maybe it went to the recent purchase of $180 each for Cowboy Hats for his Deputies? Or the $50,000 our Sheriff spent to change the Badges of our Sheriff’s Dept. Got to keep raising money to support the nasty habits of Skip Alston and his County Commissioners spend on the absurd $1.7 million dollar gifts to selective non-profits in the County with no vetting?
And the Democrats tell us – with a straight face – that inflation’s just 3% !
Lies, lies, lies…
The GC Animal Shelter is already over capacity. Many in this economy are surrendering their pets for monetary reasons. WHY would county commissioners think it is okay to make adoptions even MORE prohibitive?
Zero compassion on this bunch.
Shame, shame on you.
WOW, just another scam to extract more fees and get less services! The Animal Shelter is the worst of the worst decisions by ignorant non-business people who can’t find their rear end with 3 hands, a map and a flashlight!
These idiots are grooming themselves for future state and/or federal elected positions! They have to learn how to waste money on a local level to be able to do it on the bigger stages of State Government and/or Federal Government!
It’s past time to elect these clowns out of office with new clowns with a more ideological position until they learn the ropes of throwing money away with no consequences!
Term Limits could be a good thing!
Informative article but could be improved.
The article briefly touches on the reasoning behind the fee increases, stating they are meant to generate more revenue. However, it lacks a deeper analysis or context about the county’s financial situation, the budget process, or how these fee increases compare to those in similar counties. Including quotes from county officials explaining their rationale would provide more depth.
The article appears to take a critical stance toward the fee increases, particularly focusing on their potential negative impacts. While this perspective is valid, a more balanced approach would include viewpoints from county officials or supporters of the budget who could explain the necessity of these increases. This would provide a more comprehensive understanding for readers.
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Marschell Allen has a new fake name !!
But he’s still using A.I. – until he manages to grow a brain of his own.
Fees are nothing but taxes. What do we pay taxes for? Non-profits?