GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Guilford County Commissioners are thinking of raising the sales tax to help boost pay for teachers and principals, but it won't happen without voter approval.
County leaders have tried a handful of times to get voters to sign off on a quarter-cent sales tax increase - going from 6.75% to 7%. Previously, commissioners wanted that extra quarter-cent to go toward school debt. Voters struck down the proposed increase.
This time, Commission Chair Skip Alston said they want to try a different approach. They want that extra quarter-cent to go toward raises for educators. County leaders estimate it could turn into $25 million annually for teachers.
"We say we love our teachers, we say we love our principles and any unclassified workers. They are there working every day for our students to have a good environment to get a good education," Alston said. "Therefore, we can make sure that our teachers are paid the most here so they don’t have to go to surrounding counties to make $4,000-$5,000 more a year."
Alston said the proposed quarter-cent sales tax would not affect medicine or food.
Jeffery Rothenberg is new to the area. He said he would vote for the increase if it turns up on the November ballot.
"Teachers don’t make near enough for what they have to go through, and they have to come out of their own pockets for stuff for their classes," he said.
Sharon Smith has lived in Guilford County for nearly 30 years. She has reservations about the increase and where the money is coming from.
"I understand with the teachers and they do deserve the money, but they need to raise the salaries all across the board, everywhere," she said.
Right now, this is just a discussion - no decisions have been made. The Guilford County School Board and County Commission have to meet separately and agree on the proposal. The next step is for the county commissioners to ask the state for permission to put the sales tax referendum on the November ballot.
Then, it's the voter's choice.