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With a quarter-cent sales-tax increase before voters for the second time in a year, Guilford County commissioners passed a resolution Thursday promising the money would be used for school construction.

Yet as the Board of Commissioners, by a 7-4 margin, pledged to the county’s residents how they would spend that money, several commissioners spoke strongly against the tax and made their case that the board could change a vote on a whim.

Revenue from the sales tax would add up to about $15 million a year, if voters approve it in the fall election.

Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston, who voted against the measure with Steve Arnold, Carolyn Coleman and Bruce Davis, quickly pointed out that the first vote on the sales tax failed.

“The question is, what part of no don’t you understand, the 'n’ or the 'o’?” he said, adding that the original vote failed in the May 6 primary by a 3-to-1 margin.

Opponents emphasized that the resolution could be changed later.

Then again, nearly any resolution that the Guilford County Board of Commissioners passes can be changed.

“Like any action you guys pass, you can do a motion to amend or rescind,” County Attorney Sharron Kurtz said of any follow-up action.

Beyond what any new sales-tax revenue could be used for, the board also debated how the sales tax could affect the county.
Supporters said the sales tax could help prevent more property tax rate increases.

“Pick your poison,” said Commissioner Mike Winstead, referring to the choice of a sales-tax or a property-tax rate increase.
“At the end of the day we will pick a tax.”

A $412 million bond for school construction made up the bulk of $651.4 million in bonds that passed in May. All of those were linked to a property tax rate increase this year, with more increases to come.

“I’m not sure that it has much chance of passing,” regardless of how the board would spend the money, Winstead said.
“It’s a better tax than to keep overloading the property owners.”

In other action, commissioners approved spending for several new items for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, including accepting a $20,800 grant for 10 hand-held audio translators and spending $188,446 to replace the mobile command center.

The board also approved spending $400,000 from the county’s capital improvement fund for Triad Park, a joint project with Forsyth County.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com