Many Greensboro property owners said that the 30 percent increase in property taxes in the 2022-2023 budget was too high.
Judging from one item on the work session for the Thursday, March 17, it appears some folks at city hall would agree.
The item on the agenda is listed as “Homeowner Assistance Program.” But the assistance in this case is giving low income homeowners a break on their city property tax bill.
According to a draft of the presentation the purpose is to:
“Provide financial assistance for eligible very low income homeowners facing increased ownership costs.”
“Focus on the increased City tax bills subsequent to the 2022 revaluation (effective in FY 22-23).”
After revaluation, the City Council chose not to reduce the taxes to the revenue neutral rate and the tax rate set in the budget was equivalent to an 8.69 property tax rate increase. The city budget for 2022-2023 of $688 million was an increase from the 2021-2022 budget of nearly $70 million.
The result of that massive increase, according to the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, is that some very low income homeowners can’t afford to pay their current property taxes.
The program would essentially allow homeowners who qualify to pay the same tax bill they paid in 2021 in 2022. So for those that qualify the city would continue to charge them property taxes as if there had not been an average of a 30 percent tax hike in 2022.
Guilford County also had a massive tax increase in 2022, but this plan would not assist homeowners with their county tax bill.
To qualify, the total household gross income for a one-person household would have to be no more than $41,000. For households of two persons or more the total gross household income would have to be $47,000 or below.
The program is only for primary residences. The homeowner can’t have liens, assessments or delinquent taxes owed to the city of Greensboro and they must have at least five years of continuous home ownership.
Is a combination of wealth redistribution and pandering to enact high taxes then exempt certain groups. Why not put to a vote whether the real estate reappraisals should have been tax neutral? Isn’t that a requirement in some states?
So who besides east greensboro residents is this helping? I forget who runs city council.
Actually it will help many retirees who are on fixed incomes . Social security increase didn’t begin to cover inflation. And if your IRA is invested in the stock market, forget that income ! Even if you don’t have a mortgage, you have upkeep and repairs, not to mention property taxes and insurance…….
Sounds like we may need a new city council because the current one is set to purchase some votes. I say let’s crowd the polls when the next election takes place to oust this bunch .
This is not a “duh” moment, it is a “no-s^*t” moment. The middle and lower classes are being wiped out, along with everyone living month to month. That is the Govt plan – dependency on Big Brother.
That is corporate America’s plan. The governments only plan is ‘hold power for me me me.” Corporate America’s goal is to keep wages as low as possible and have government subsidies make up the difference so they can pocket a greater and greater share of the wealth.
You are right.
Another discriminatory plan to punish the middle income tax payer that lives off of SS and a pension. This council is a Woke Socialist Council and this fits right into their leftist agenda.
It’s time for another Boston Tea Party. Why just low income the F$$king taxes are too high for everyone. I’m WHITE and middle class Hell I have trouble paying mine too. Screw this council and the commissioners too I’ll do black face if I can get help
Reassessments during a post pandemic housing crisis with an abnormally high real estate values… How is this increase even legal on a Citywide or Countywide level? What is the end goal here? Who can afford their property tax this year? We should all be yelling from the the rooftops.
Property tax should be the same for all property owners . No exceptions. All property owners receive same city services . So no favorites. We older people on SS and pensions worked for all we have, let everyone else do the same.
What you see here is just the Democrats doing what they do to keep their voting base enthusiastic. There were rumors afloat that their faithful were getting restless and beginning to stray. Any time the Democratic base appears to begin a move to the right, no matter how slight, the brilliance of the Dems is to nip it right there, Bad news for the weary manipulated taxpayers. Putty in their conniving hands.
Great article I’m not sure if it’s true but I hear we’re higher than Raleigh or Charlotte.. a good addition to this article would have been a link to who to contact if you make under $41,000 to get assistance. Thank you
Must be nice every time you need money just raise taxes. They think everyone is a millionaire just because they worked their asses off to have a little something when they retired. This is a give me, give me society!
See my letter in todays edition. 3-20-23
Nice timing to decide reevaluated property tax at the peak of the home value wave. Interest rates were down, houses were selling above their evaluation value. They took advantage of us all for a windfall payoff. Now we are swinging towards higher interest rates, slower home sales, reduced home value. But we will be paying on a best case value on our homes that may not be realistic for many years to come. I know others were affected more than me, but my mortgage payment increased $100 per month. Yes, another $1200 per year for our council and commissioners to fhrow away. I’m just one homeowner. Take my $1200 times the amount of properties in my area, we should be able to build a new east greensboro and start over.