news-record.com

Well if there's an increase, people will simply look elsewhere to shop. It's already too high, all things of non food I buy at online stores that don't charge a sales tax and have free shipping. Alternatively I can also buy from states that don't have a sales tax from friends that live there and simply pay the shipping cost when they send it to me. All manner of ways to avoid a sales tax.

“Our employees also haven’t had a cost-of-living increase in their salaries for the last two years. So in the next year we’re going to have to look at everything. A sales tax increase may be something we have to try.” - Skip Alston
Well boo-frickin'-hoo. At least you HAVE a job, Skipper. That's really what the sales tax hike is about, isn't it Skip?

"But when voters approved more than $500 million in bonds in 2008, they made some sort of tax increase inevitable, he said."

THIS is exactly what many of us kept saying, but those wanting the bonds kept saying our taxes wouldn't increase because they were bonds! People, until this economy improves, we need to DO WITHOUT non-essentials. This means things like parks and rec funding, swim centers, etc. that can be tabled until the economy is better.

As for the poor workers who Skip says haven't had a raise in 2 years, "my heart pumps Pepsi" for them. At least they have a job and they had a raise 2 years ago. It's been so long for some of us, we can't even remember when we last had a raise! Again, time for EVERYONE to cut to the bare bones, do without, and stop the excessive government spending by voting out those who seem to think the taxpayers are an unending source of funding their newest idea.

The point is well made but Parks and Rec and The Swim Center aren't County. I understand a small increase may be required. Look to cuts first, temp consumption tax next, perm sales tax then property tax last. It is a tough time but we will get through this. But I am tired of hearing about not getting raises for x nunber of years. MANY are making less and some are unemp,oyed. Get a grip on that point.

A double "Amen" to all of the above. Quit spending, quit spending, quit spending. Better yet, sell something, a lot of something[s].

time to start looking for someplace else to live! Sadly, it seems that everyone in America these days loves to spend money they don't have. Maybe I'll just do more internet shopping.
I bet I don't even use any of the stuff this tax hike is going to be used for.

Also, many of these bonds are "2/3s" bonds, which means that once you give the gummit the ok to spend the money, they can continue to borrow 2/3s of the repaid principle at any time in the future. So instead of being in debt by just $1M on a bond, you are really giving them much more to spend. And they don't even have to ask you if it's ok first!

During the whole budget process last month these Liberal Parasites had the chance to cut spending. They chose not to cut spending and now want the working class to carry thier fiscal irresponsibility. It is time to get rid of people like Skip Alston, Kirk Perkins and Carolyn Coleman. Remember, it only took the governer of Virginia six months to take a budget deficit and turn it into a budget surplus. They simply cut spending..........

I think we should have the opportunity to vote again on the bonds. Do we really need a $20 million dollar swimming pool?

Government jobs are way ahead of the private sector. No raises are warranted at this time. Certain floors of the jail mothballed for a few years. We do not have enough inmates to use the entire facility. Look at our taxes compared with other counties in the Piedmont. Ours should be lower because of economies of scale. In fact, they are on the high end. We still have people that do not or will not understand that we are not a rich county and we must limit spending.

But wait, Bev already increased the state sales tax (temporarily) by 1% and now G'boro looking at raising their sales tax even more? When will they realize that you have to figure out that eventually you have to "pay" for what you spend. Sales tax is a regressive tax with the heavier burden on the lower income earners. This goes further to show what a failed ideology liberalism actually is. It keeps the poorer people poor by making them continue to rely on the government instead of promoting self sufficiency and allowing an environment that will help them get off of the government payroll (welfare). If the people were financially strong providing for themselves then they would want/need/rely on a smaller government and one that would dictate how they live their own lives. But that would mean the end of the liberal control in Washington and there would be no more Demoncratic Party! So it makes sense...the Dem's need to keep people be reliant on them so they keep getting their votes. Govn't cant give to someone that it has not first taken from someone else! You cant make an economy strong by spending your way through and raising taxes during a recession!!!! I have to live on a budget so why cant the government?

Guilford County citizens voted for this huge debt when they approved bonds for schools and a new jail totalling more than a half Billion dollars. The debt is not going away, the county budget has been slashed for the last two years to pay the debt service. The question is do we raise property tax or do we look for alternatives. Guilford County is a shopping mecca. People from other places travel to shop here. It would make sense for us to ask them to contribute in a slightly higher sales tax so that we don't have to continue to raise the property tax on over strapped property owners.

If they are going to raise taxes to pay for bond debt, I support a sales tax increase. All voters who voted to pass these bonds need to feel the pain and not just relegate that pain to property owners. Maybe they will make the connection.

The solution is simple. Do what the folks do when we run out of money: STOP SPENDING!

Perhaps we could transform the new jail into a downtown hotel ;-)

1. County workers don't need a raise. Government jobs already have enough perks such as great benefits and retirement packages that private sector workers don't have. A government job shouldn't be the best job available.
2. A sales tax increase of the size proposed really wouldn't be noticed by most consumers and in fact we'd probably forget about it within a month.
3. Spending needs to be cut, but every commissioner and every department manager has his "pet" projects that are protected in one way or the other. Some of those things are going have to face cuts as well.
4. As for the term "parasite liberals" that one commenter used, politicians from both sides only want to tax us and control us. Any benefits we get are secondary to taxing and controlling. However, I can say that in my decades of life, my income and quality of life (as well as the nations) have always been better under Democratic rule than Republican rule. Democrats like to spend money, but Republican policies throw us into recessions time and again. Republicans want to cut government spending but only the things that average working class citizens benefit from...they keep the pork flowing to the war industry and to corporate welfare.