Oct. 24 - 30, 2014
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996
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Revenue from quarter-cent sales tax will go to education, commissioners say Additional sales tax revenue would generate about $14 million annually by PATTI STOKES GUILFORD COUNTY – A referendum to increase Guilford County’s sales tax rate by one-quarter cent will be on the Nov. 4 ballot. Guilford County Schools proposed the increase as a way of obtaining funding they say is essential to help meet the county’s growing educational needs; the increase is estimated
to raise about $14 million per year. By a vote of 7-2, the Guilford County commissioners voted in June to place the sales and use tax referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot; Republicans Jeff Phillips and Hank Hennings cast the two opposing votes. Because the sales tax legislation does not allow a county to specify the use of additional money on the ballot, revenue generated by the quartercent tax would go into the county’s general fund. Though commissioners have said they would earmark the
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additional revenue for education, it is possible, with a majority vote of the commissioners, the revenue could be used for something else in the future.
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If approved, the sales tax rate in Guilford County would increase from 6.75 percent to 7 percent of every $1 spent on the same items that are currently subject to sales tax, such as prepared foods (it would not apply to unprepared food, motor vehicles, prescription drugs, certain medical equipment, and gasoline).
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Proponents of the additional
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Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO
Landscape in northwest Guilford County is constantly changing while construction is in full gear on the numerous area highway projects. This section on Alcorn Road between Golden Acres Road and Northwest School Road in Oak Ridge has recently undergone a significant change in appearance as the clearing for I-73 moves toward Summerfield. Doggett Construction Company, based in Summerfield, is in the process of removing trees along the route.
Photos courtesy of Stokesdale Elementary
Stokesdale Elementary students came up with a unique way to honor Mary Smith, a former, longtime staff member who died on Sept. 10. Each of the school’s 20 classes participated in designing and decorating pumpkins, which were then raffled off at the school. Proceeds from the raffle totaled $380 and were donated to Good Samaritan Ministry’s food pantry in Stokesdale in Smith’s honor.