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That $1.3 million in county taxes - an answer?

We received a copy of a draft of the new economic development policy this afternoon that Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Steve Arnold has been working on since before the county passed its budget.

There was $1.3 million held for in the 2009-10 budget for some incentives to commercial development, but that's about all we heard about the money.

Not much has been said until now, and Arnold didn't have much to say about it this afternoon because he left before we could look over the document and ask some questions.

Now that we have, there are a few things that we'd ask.

Though there are safeguards against getting county money for personal gain, what would keep someone from taking money for a business expense and spending it elsewhere? Or working the system? Have you ever known someone who had a vacation but wrote it off as a business expense?

How can we make sure that the public can get a look at who is spending the money? Sure, there's a report from the tax office to commissioners, but what about other times? When can Joe Public get to see who's getting county money?

Wouldn't the program put a little more work on an already hard-working tax department? They did have cuts like other departments in the layoff.

There are a number of self-employed among commissioners. How many could qualify for the money, and would they apply for it themselves?

That are just a few off the top of the ol' Scoop head. What would you like to know? We're going to track down Arnold on the issue tomorrow.

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Tags: Guilford County, Steve Arnold, economic incentives

Posted by Gerald Witt on Monday, August 10, 2009 at 5:12 pm

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candice5009

August 10, 2009 - 11:11 pm EDT

How is it that Steve Arnold’s partner in Arcon Construction is the owner of the property the county is buying for the County High Point offices? If you look Register of Deeds BK 4165 pg 691, C Wayne McDonald is listed as his Arcon partner. McDonald only bought the property in 2003. How much is Arnold getting as commission? Something is beyond fishy…….Since many of the commissioners and their families are in business, how much of this 1.3 million will they get?

trukinguy

August 11, 2009 - 8:25 am EDT

Looks like Candice is all over this one...maybe she needs to work for the County.....too many crooked Politicians in our own back yard ...controlling our tax money ...give me a break.....and the City Council is no better ...a mayor who along with her husband has filed bankruptcy probably twice in the last 20 yrs and a council woman who owes a bldg supply company in excess of 250,000.00 ...when are the citizens of Greensboro and Guilford County going to vote these crooks out of office. Maybe its time all residents of this once great city and county should ban together and refuse to pay their taxes until these people clean their act up.

Gerald Witt

August 11, 2009 - 9:43 am EDT

Candice - Thanks for the info. We're looking into it.

superwoman

August 11, 2009 - 1:07 pm EDT

There are a lot that do or have worked for the county and are told "mum" is the word. don't ask and you had better not tell. There comes a point when being a straight forward decent human being would just be the right thing to do...

candice5009

August 11, 2009 - 3:57 pm EDT

Superwoman it wasn’t hard to put 2 and 2 together. News articles stating Arnold thinking about stepping down because of pending Arcon lawsuits and may be forced into bankruptcy. Latest article stating bankruptcy courts questioning transfer of property and funds from sale. Now the 1.3 million dollars grants for renovating commercial property with the tax director as accountant. Remember tax director is under commissioners. Maybe we will have another Brenda Fox Jones saga. Don’t agree, get fired. Sue county and get rehired at big money. Everyone needs to read the Commercial Investment Policy. Looks like they are giving out the grants(not loans) for commercial renovations to raise tax values and in turn higher tax bills. What is the time limit before that owner can resell an improved property? The policy is full of loop holes.