Jeff Phillips, Republican Nominee, Guilford County Commissioners, District 5: "County budget sleight of hand"

"...I have become more aware of how the Guilford County Board of Commission operates,
discovering a good bit about their trickery as well.

...Fox and the BoCs initially proposed a budget that would require a 9.5 cent tax increase.

After one of the largest stealth tax increases in Guilford County history:

"County passes budget, slight tax decrease"

Then came the outcry of the public, along with a few commissioners,
who suddenly saw the light of fiscal conservatism in an election year.

Then came the puzzling announcement
of a $5.6 billion increase in Guilford County property values.

Bottom line: higher taxes for many property owners.

"Commercial Real Estate Prices Just Hit A New Post-Bubble Low"

How about that revaluation tax increase on everybody else, Greensboro and Guilford leaders?

Not long after the revaluation,
a revised budget was revealed that would only require a 4 cent property tax increase.

It seemed that the additional $15 million of revenue from existing property values
and new construction growth would more than make up for the now lower tax increase.

...The late-breaking news is announced that the commissioners
will now proudly present a slight “reduction” in the tax rate.

It would seem that our local economy is now on the mend,
as reflected by the much-improved property and sales tax revenue projections.

And the crowd goes wild!

Or so it would seem.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Guilford County Real Estate Revaluations:

What are the chances, and why did we get a tax decrease

after a projected big shortfall until revals?

First, the increase in property values resulted in a tax increase
to many Guilford County residents without anyone calling it a tax increase.

Also, to make the approved budget numbers work,
sales tax revenue projections needed to be increased by millions over last year
– a guesstimate, at best.

And then there is the revelation that you could have easily missed
if you had been looking “over there.”

The 2012-13 budget that passed on a unanimous vote by the Board of Commissioners
will spend at least $8 million more of our money than last year ($587 versus $579 million).

Could what happened to Charlotte's Real Estate Tax Revaluation

have happened in Guilford County,

which could explain the tax cut instead of a projected increase?

So why are the commissioners so proud of their recent win for Guilford County?

...It should be very concerning to all of us
that the families and hard-working taxpayers of Guilford County
are being told they got a great deal from our commissioners,
as county spending and taxes for many are going up significantly."

Jeff Phillips
Republican Nominee
Guilford County Commissioners, District 5

John Hammer on Trash - "Frank Smith who also works for Waste Connections" - Didn't a "Frank Smith" donate to Trudy Wade?

"...Frank Smith who also works for Waste Connections
and was the other person at the meeting...

Voting with Matheny to spend an extra $6 million to $10 million
and award the contract to Republic Services
were Mayor Robbie Perkins and Councilmembers Nancy Vaughan
and Dianne Bellamy-Small.

Is this true?

...The majority on the Greensboro City Council
desperately wants to give the city's garbage bid to Republic Services and Hilco Transport
despite the fact that their bids are higher.

For some reason the fact that Waste Connections keeps underbidding Republic
is seen as a problem.

...Matheny, during the process of bidding the garbage disposal options,
has failed to mention that he is in the garbage and recycling business himself.

This is a fact that might have been of interest to his fellow councilmembers and his constituents,
but Matheny chose not to disclose his new business venture.

WTF?

Matheny is now selling the services of Green Day,
a recycling and waste collection company in Greensboro.

On Tuesday, June 26, before he had sent out the memo to fellow councilmembers,
Matheny said, "Green Day has nothing to do with Republic
and has nothing to do with Waste Connections."

When asked if Green Day used the Republic landfill or transfer station,
Matheny said, "I don't know. Not that I'm aware of."

...Matheny did not want to discuss how Green Day handles its operations.

WTF?

...Matheny was recused from the White Street Landfill discussions
because his employer at that time, Bell Partners,
had a business relationship with D.H. Griffin Co. on a project in Atlanta.

And D.H. Griffin was one of the companies
that was involved in bidding on operating the landfill for the city.

Mayor Perkins is an owner of NAI Piedmont Triad commercial real estate,
which has contracts with D.H. Griffin, but he was not recused."

John Hammer

Really?

Where did you hear that John?

"Matheny defends himself against slander accusation": Hartzman is Abner Doon in the comments

http://www.news-record.com/blog/55399/entry/146790

2012 Edition of Guilford County, Greensboro, High Point and Guilford County School Salaries plus State Salaries Link

HAT TIP: RHINO TIMES

Below you will find links to the 2012 Edition of our local public employees and their salaries in regards to Guilford County N.C. , City of Greensboro, CIty of High Point and Guilford County Schools.

Guilford County
Article: County Salaries 2012
Salaries

City of Greensboro
Article: City Salaries Are Shocking
Salaries

City of High Point
Article: High Salaries in High Point
Salaries

Guilford County Schools
Article: School Salaries Still The Same
Salaries

also here is a link to see a lot of the North Carolina State Public Salaries from the times news
State Agencies

University Salaries

Zugzwang

"Zugzwang…describes a situation where one player is put at a disadvantage
because he has to make a move

– the player would prefer to pass and make no move.

The fact that the player must make a move
means that his position will be significantly weaker
than the hypothetical one in which it is his opponent's turn to move.

A player whose turn it is to move
who has no move that does not worsen their position is said to be in zugzwang.

In a chess endgame, being in zugzwang
usually means going from a drawn position to a loss
or a won position to a draw, but it can be from a win to a loss,
or a substantial loss of material which probably affects the outcome of the game."

Zugzwang
Wikipedia

I have studied the enemy all my life.

I have read the memoirs of his generals and his leaders.

I have even read his philosophers…

I have studied in detail the account of every damned one of his battles.

I know exactly how he will react under any given set of circumstances,

and he hasn’t the slightest idea of what I’m going to do.

So when the time comes, I’m going to whip the hell out of him.

George S Patton

"Zugzwang is when a chess player's choices
all result in a worse position than having done nothing
which isn't a choice."

Mark Hartzman

Dear neo-Keynesians:

There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one:

the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect;

the good economist takes into account both the effect that can be seen
and those effects that must be foreseen…

the bad economist pursues a small present good that will be followed by a great evil to come,
while the good economist pursues a great good to come,
at the risk of a small present evil.

Frederic Bastiat

"The decline of great powers
is caused by simple economic over extension."

Paul Michael Kennedy
British historian, and author of “The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers”

After one of the largest stealth tax increases in Guilford County history: "County passes budget, slight tax decrease"

http://www.news-record.com/node/145518

Why did Brenda think she could walk with another $45,000?

Why did Skip let her?

And then a tax cut?

Really?

If Brenda and Skip would try the bonus,
why would they have any problem with rigging the property revaluation
to keep everybody fat and happy,
with a shadow tax increase to pay for it
while most are too stupid to have figured it out
like Greensboro's press corps?

http://www.news-record.com/node/142882

http://www.news-record.com/node/141544

http://www.news-record.com/node/141490

http://www.news-record.com/node/139812

Guilford County grows low on savings

"after several years of ballooning debt, diminishing revenues and no tax increases,
the county has spent down its savings — the “fund balance” left after its expenses are paid
— close to the recommended minimum.

In the budget proposal that she delivered last week,
County Manager Brenda Jones Fox suggested spending $24 million from the fund balance
to pay for next year’s budget.

If that happens, the fund balance still would have about $46.5 million in it
— the recommended minimum.

That would leave the county just $554,000 to spend on emergencies.

Killian

Friday, April 15, 2011

reval?

Almost amazing, isn't it?

It's almost as if the money come from property revaluations,

doesn't it?

Now we should trust our local press to completly forget the past?

The more you lose, the longer it takes to break even

% loss.............................% to break even

10..............................................11
50.............................................100
90.............................................1,000

The first rule is not to lose.

The second rule is not to forget the first rule.

Warren Buffett

Dear City of Greensboro Tax Payers: Do you remember being duped by last year’s city budget information dissemination?

All that was needed was an unending series of victories

over your own memory

George Orwell

"...a penny on the tax rate is worth $2.2 million to the city of Greensboro.

City Manager Rashad Young proposed $9.26 million in cuts last week..."

Why not mention the $4.9 million of cash reserves to be spent

and admit to having a $14 million deficit?

.

George Hartzman

Amanda Lehmert
Greensboro News and Record, April 11, 2010

Sometimes I wonder

whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on

or by imbeciles who really mean it

Mark Twain

" *No tax increases

*Combining yard waste with leaf pick-up, while eliminating loose leaf collection

*Reducing, but not eliminating, summer park programs

*Limiting bond projects to $40 million

If $1 million in debt not borrowed saves $88 million,

why not save about $3.5 million by not borrowing $40 million?

.

George Hartzman

*Eliminating school crossing guards"

Highlights of the proposed City budget
via press release via Ed Cone, May 25, 2010

Half the work that is done in this world

is to make things appear what they are not

Elias Root Beadle

"City Budget Designed To Generate Outcry

Across the nation and around the world, because of the recession, governments are making serious reductions in their size and scope of operations. In Greensboro we are continuing along as if everything is hunky-dory and, according to the proposed budget, Greensboro will be taking on $70 million in new debt in the next two years.

...Young made the predictable cuts. He cut services that would result in councilmembers receiving lots of calls and emails.

...How many calls do councilmembers get when the city decides it will stop loose leaf collection in the fall, or reduce library services, or reduce services at city parks? A lot.

...Eliminating school crossing guards involves both children and police. It is difficult to find a cut that has the potential to cause more public outcry...

Evidently, in city manager school, they learn that cuts should be made in places that will make the taxpayers howl. In many cases, then the elected officials will decide not to make those cuts..."

John Hammer
Rhino, May 28, 2010

.
He who wishes to deceive will never fail to find willing dupes

Niccolo Machiavelli

.
"Libraries, loose-leaf collection and crossing guards are back.

And a tax cut may be on the way.

...City Council members agreed to keep a variety of services that had been slated for cuts

Without mentioning $4.9 million of reserve spending

while borrowing to build a money losing swimming pool?

Didn’t Greece borrow money while simultaneously spending reserves?

George Hartzman

...Council members peppered Young with their own budget-shrinking suggestions. If enough of those suggestions stick, the city could be heading for its first true tax cut in decades.

...Young’s recommended $420 million budget had called for service cuts across the city. But council members restored funding Tuesday for many of those items, including:

$600,000 for loose-leaf collection.

$400,000 to make up for Guilford County’s funding cuts to the Greensboro library system.

$90,000 to maintain recreation at city lakes.

$256,000 for school crossing guards..."

The great majority of mankind

are satisfied with appearance as though they were realities

and are often more influenced by the things that seem than those that are

Niccolo Machiavelli

Amanda Lehmert

Greensboro News and Record, June 9, 2010

"No, It Is NOT "Legal" For Congress To Insider-Trade"

Potential Sites for Greensboro Performing Arts Center

Potential Sites

•Based on analysis Rick Flierl from Cooper Cary and input from AMS,
three sites are priorities

–News and Record

–West Washington Street/Federal Place
•Carolina Theater

–North Elm/Bellemeade

How many times has the Greensboro News & Record

mentioned thier property was a potential site?

What else hasn't the News & Record reported

about what some consider to be important local news

about others who give them consistent taxpayer supported annuitized revenue?

How much does who own of the other potential properties?

- Must be sustained by firm commitment from the City on securing public financing

- Explore dedicated revenue source for existing arts community

How much could a PAC hurt our existing arts community?

How would a new PAC not put the Carolina Theater out of business?

How much did Durham spend on thier older theater?

Another $5 million or so?

"Commercial Real Estate Prices Just Hit A New Post-Bubble Low" How about that revaluation tax increase on everybody else, Greensboro and Guilford leaders?

http://cr4re.com/charts/charts.html?CRE#category=CRE&chart=MITCPPIMay2011.jpg

"Costly Secret Land Deal Exposed," by the Rhino's Scott D. Yost on Brenda Jones Fox, Dian Brigman, Bruce Davis and the Guilford County Planning Board

"...Guilford County Manager Brenda Jones Fox entered Guilford County into a real estate contract with a private real estate broker, and did so without consulting the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

Fox signed a contract with High Point Realtor Dian Brigman of GreenPoint Properties.

That contract wasn't drawn up by the Guilford County attorney's office or the Guilford County Property Management Department – instead, it was, according to Brigman, written by Brigman's attorney.

Should attorneys for county "vendors" write contracts?

The contract states that Guilford County will pay Brigman 5 percent of the transaction value of any real estate she finds for Guilford County ...

...The [current]contract ...specifies five sites that Brigman has located for the county...

Who are the owners and listing agents for the five properties?

...of those five sites, Guilford County was already aware of three – the top three choices.

...normally a contract of that sort would exclude properties the county was already aware of before being signed.

...if the county ended up buying one of the properties flagged by Brigman but that county officials were aware of before, the county would have to work with Brigman to determine what was fair and, he added, if that couldn't be worked out between the parties, the matter could end up in court...

...Commissioner Mike Winstead,...said he has no idea why Fox would sign a contract to pay Brigman for work the county is already set up to do.

"We have a whole department that does that," Winstead said.

Why would the County want to pay a 5% fee that it doesn't have to?

...According to [BJ] Barnes...real estate matters are always handled by the Guilford County Property Management Department.

How much has Brigman, or any other realtor recieved from Guilford County and why,
if the county already does what Brigman does?

...Barnes felt duped because, at that time, he – like practically everyone else other than Fox and Brigman – didn't know there actually was a signed contract in place.

...Brigman ...is on the Guilford County Planning Board, and she was the agent who showed Commissioner Bruce Davis the county building in High Point that now houses social services and several other county functions in High Point, and she has done work for Commissioner Steve Arnold.

Should members of the Planning Board
transact real estate related business
with the government of the municipality of which they oversee?

When Fox was asked if she knew Brigman before Brigman approached her with the real estate deal, Fox said, "No."

Fox didn't know a member of the Planning Board?

How long has Brigman been on the Planning Board?

Did Fox know Brigman was on the Planning Board when the contract was signed?

When Brigman was asked if she knew Fox before the deal, Brigman said, "I knew her in passing."

How often does Fox interact with members of the Planning Board?

Should a Planning Board member solicit the city for business?

Wasn't CICO's Paul Gilmer on the Planning Board,
who also may have just jumped to the front of line of

and was appointed to the Zoning Commission
by Jim Kee?

Should members of the Zoning Commission solicit trash related business
from Greensboro?

What is Gilmer's take on Brigman's contract?

...The Rhinoceros Times discovered the contract signed on Sept. 30 was a second contract – there was a prior contract signed by Fox and Brigman on March 18, 2010.

...Guilford County Attorney Mark Payne ...was troubled by some issues in the contract and he wanted a new one in place.

Payne said one concern with the original contract was the possibility that it could be seen as giving Brigman exclusivity in finding property for the county.

In fact, the contract has the following in bold across the top: "Exclusive Agency & Confidentiality Agreement." And the document begins, "This Exclusive Agent Agreement ...""

Scott

What did Fox say about the appropriateness
of "exclusivity" and "confidentiality" agreements?

How many possibly redundant contracts
is the county currently involved with
and with whom?

Brenda Jones Fox, Tax Director Ben Chavis and Real Estate Tax Revaluations

Considering the closeness of the County Manager to the Tax Director,

shouldn't the "miracle" budget, per Joe Killian

be investigated a little to figure out what happened?

I have written about the problems with Guilford County's real estate tax revaluation

and noted the turmoil going on in Mecklemberg County with their revaluations.

I asked for and recieved the before and after data from Guilford County,

and a demographic expert neighbor ran the numbers

and found anomolies posted previously.

I emailed and talked to Joe Killian, Amanda Lehmert, Scott Yost

Allen Johnson, Jeff Gauger and Margaret Banks about this issue,

and provided the analysis and phone number of the analyzer.

I just spoke with him.

No one called.

Not one phone call over a serious allegation

which I have spoken of at both Guilford County and City of Greensboro meetings

in front of said reporters etc...

forwarded the information,

posted of it for months,

and not one phone call to investigate?

Not one call?

"A license tag office would be a completely new business for Guilford County government, and it would mean hiring about a half-dozen new county employees to provide a service that's handled by private companies in almost every other county in the state.

It would also mean that Guilford County government would be in direct competition with the two privately owned license plate offices currently operating in the county.

A Linkfest and a few North Carolina Government Officials that have recieved information concerning George Hartzman's Wells Fargo Whistleblower Filing

Hartzman’s Whistleblower Filing, Part One: The Federal Reserve

Hartzman’s Whistleblower Filing, Part Two of One: The Federal Reserve

Hartzman’s Whistleblower Filing, Part Two: Secret Fed Loans Gave Banks Undisclosed $13B

NORTH CAROLINA SECURITIES DIVISION COMPLAINT

On Hartzman's Whistleblower Filing: "If more money was withdrawn than invested in US equity products during 2009...,"

Hartzman’s Wells Fargo Whistleblower Filing: Part Four

nancy@votehoffmann.com, Mary.McCollough@greensboro-nc.gov, robbie.perkins@greensboro-nc.gov, abuzuaiter@aol.com, nancy.vaughan@greensboro-nc.gov, bellamy.small@greensboro-nc.gov, jim.kee@greensboro-nc.gov, trudy.wade@greensboro-nc.gov, zack.matheny@greensboro-nc.gov, Donna.Gray@greensboro-nc.gov, Jamiah.Waterman@greensboro-nc.gov, thomas.Carruthers@greensboro-nc.gov, Marion.Flemmings@ncdoi.gov, reportfraud@ncdoi.gov, kcashio@co.guilford.nc.us, OIGHotline@frb.gov, colema@co.guilford.nc.us, bdavis2@co.guilford.nc.us, pgibson@co.guilford.nc.us, jparks@co.guilford.nc.us, skip@alstonrealtygroup.com, kperkins@triad.rr.com, imlshaw@aol.com, mwinste@co.guilford.nc.us, byow0@co.guilford.nc.us, BFOXMGR@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, SFULLER@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, MPAYNE@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, EVARITI@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, BWEAVER@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, BBARNES@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, MHALFOR@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, bchavis@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, RBAKER@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US, RZIMMER@CO.GUILFORD.NC.US ccollic@co.guilford.nc.us, Alma.Adams@ncleg.net, John.Blust@ncleg.net, Marcus.Brandon@ncleg.net, John.Faircloth@ncleg.net, Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net, Maggie.Jeffus@ncleg.net, Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net, Larry.Womble@ncleg.net, Bert.Jones@ncleg.net, Phil.Berger@ncleg.net, Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net, Gladys.Robinson@ncleg.net, Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net, Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net, Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net, mbarham@nccpaboard.gov, ftrainor@nccpaboard.gov, buckw@nccpaboard.gov, cemery@nccpaboard.gov, hhinkle@nccpaboard.gov, mbbritt@nccpaboard.gov,atrainor@nccpaboard.gov, rbrooks@nccpaboard.gov,
Cheryl.Allen-Bivens@ncdoi.gov, chicago@sec.gov, Cynthia.Padgett@ncdoi.gov, dcaoletters@sec.gov, Deborah.Jackson@ncdoi.gov, Donna.Tucker@ncdoi.gov, foiapa@sec.gov, cgray@nasba.org, tkenny@nasba.org, ganton@aicpa.org, rcaturano@aicpa.org, Gary.Jones@ncdoi.gov, Jill.Dale@ncdoi.gov, Jim.McQuillan@ncdoi.gov, Kelvin.Owens@ncdoi.gov, Kim.King@ncdoi.gov, Tanyelle.Byrd@ncdoi.gov, Tracy.Biehn@ncdoi.gov, Vicki.Royal@ncdoi.gov, dholland@ncbar.gov, lnicolicchia@ncbar.gov, eoakes@ncbar.gov, jslattery@ncbar.gov, slever@ncbar.gov, nmclaughlin@ncbar.gov, amine@ncbar.gov, lheidbrink@ncbar.gov, tlunsford@ncbar.gov, sei@doa.nc.gov, tlunsford@ncbar.gov, smelvin@ncbar.gov, dmelching@ncbar.gov, djohnson@ncbar.gov, lcrane@ncbar.gov, pbolac@ncbar.gov, dwhaley@ncbar.gov, lheidbrink@ncbar.gov, dmullen@ncbar.gov, kjean@ncbar.gov, jcommisso@ncbar.gov, tlunsford@ncbar.gov, lheidbrink@ncbar.gov, amine@ncbar.gov, nmclaughlin@ncbar.gov, slever@ncbar.gov,
ombudsman@ncdoj.gov, Bill.George@ncdoi.gov, Brian.Dearden@ncdoi.gov,

Exodus 23:3 - "You shall not favor a poor man in his cause."

If most were to comprehend the “realities” of what may actually be
as opposed to what most currently think is,
an entirely different set of counterintuitive circumstances could emerge.

Effectiveness through understanding could be exponential
as long as most continue to not know what they could.

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

If nothing doesn’t change,
you can’t start over.

Are chances better
for players who more accurately calculate probabilities the farthest into the future?

The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history,

whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.

Thomas Jefferson

If political candidates raise money for advertising,
do election campaigns indirectly provide the incomes
of those relied on for unbiased analysis and endorsements?

Should strategy be merciless
if a pawn can become a queen,
weakness can become and overcome strength,
and defense is offense?

Fascism is capitalism in decay.

Vladimir Lenin

Could many who believe the government should pledge their children’s future income
to prevent the failure of insolvent businesses and/or countries
be indirectly advocating a political system other than capitalistic democracy?

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Guilford County Real Estate Revaluations: What are the chances, and why did we get a tax decrease after a projected big shortfall until revals?

What are the chances of 420 Guilford County homes worth more than $1,000,000
rising an average of $42,541 each
between 2004 and 2012?

What are the chances of 420 Guilford County homes worth more than $1,000,000
rising about 35 times as much as an average Guilford County home
between 2004 and 2012?

What are the chances of the values of 420 Guilford County homes
worth more than $1,000,000
rising by a total of $17,867,405 between 2004 and 2012?

http://www.uncg.edu/bae/cber/tbi/apr12/index.htm

Hartzman’s Whistleblower Filing, Part Two: Secret Fed Loans Gave Banks Undisclosed $13 Billion

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/06/hartzmans-whistleblower-filing-part-two_13.html

Could what happened to Charlotte's Real Estate Tax Revaluation have happened in Guilford County, which could explain the tax cut instead of a projected increase?

"Mecklenburg commissioners
...said they want an independent review of the 2011 property revaluation,
saying it could help bring answers to lingering concerns about the appraisal.

Has anyone in Greensboro read about Meck's revaluation issues in Charlotte

from a local news source?

...The vote comes after months of growing criticism about the accuracy of last year’s revaluation,
the county’s first since 2003.

Residents had questioned, among other things, how the county set land values
and how it factored in the effect of foreclosures and still-falling home sales.

...“Why are there so many people so upset about their revaluation
if there isn’t something wrong?” Pendergraph said.

“There’s just too much smoke not to have some fire somewhere.”

...Before commissioners began their debate, they heard from 17 speakers
– nearly all in favor of an outside review of the revaluation.

They spoke before a packed chamber,
with some in the audience carrying signs that said “Fix It.”

WCNC

Independent firm expected to review Mecklenburg revaluation process

"The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners voted 6 to 3

to have an independent firm review the 2011 property revaluation process.

Homeowners packed the Mecklenburg County government center Tuesday night.

...Homeowners have argued for months that they paid too much

for faulty property evaluations by the Mecklenburg County Tax Assessor's Office.

Has anyone in the local press

taken a look at Guilford County's revaluation statistics?

...A county spokesman says there are still thousands of appeals outstanding."

WBTV

Commissioners Want Outside Auditor For Revaluation

"The staff is saying it's all OK, but it's not OK,"
said former Cornelius Town Commissioner Jim Bensman.

He and a group of residents say they have documented how the county tax assessor's office
violated several state statutes in its latest revaluation.

..."They've refused to provide information to the homeowners who need in order to appeal."

Property owners complain about having to appeal the 2011 revaluations
that they say were appraised ...too high...

..."Until you understand what the issues are," said Bensman, "you can't begin to fix them."

FOX

Commissioners Call For Revaluation Audit

Commissioner Karen Bentley is one of the commissioners calling for the audit.

She’s been flooded with complaints from upset homeowners.

They say not only that their property was valued too high,

but that the appeals process was also flawed.

...Emily Zuyus, a Myers Park homeowner,

argues that the county’s false information kept property owners from appealing.

...She believes her property is overvalued, especially the lot her house is on.

It jumped from $936,800 to almost $1.2 million,

increasing her property taxes by close to $3,000.

WFAE

“No change,” said Cornelius resident Paul McMellon...

That’s a phrase he didn't want to see
after he appealed a revaluation on two pieces of property.

“No change in value.

That's the lot right here,” he said.

“It went from $20,000 to $47,500.”

He said it was a similar story for his other property on Main Street.

WSOTV

"...a lot of concerns are clumped in Cornelius,

where some waterfront land has skyrocketed.

...Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte...says the current process

is not establishing true market value for homeowners.

Another problem, he says, is this:

"It's a little bit backwards that the burden of proof is on the property owner

to prove that the value isn't set correctly by the tax assessor's office.

So they end up then hiring professionals or certified appraisers to value their property,

and then depending on technicalities,

often times that information is not being accepted by the tax assessor's office."

...property owners feel like they're in the dark.

"If their appeal was rejected,

county officials must give a detailed explanation," Tarte says.

"I don't know one person who's had that information shared.

They're just told no, sorry."

WBTV

"Why we don't have check in the bank? We do have every reason to believe the number of new investments at this point and time is over 13 million dollars," said Ross Harris, GPAC Task Force."

http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/231322/57/Greensboro-City-Council-Reduces-Bond-For-GPAC

From someone who lied to my face during the election,
this doesn't mean jack siht.

Gonna take Robbie's campaign manager's word?

Did you believe thier push poll results?

Cognative Dissonance anyone?

Roy Carroll and Robbie must love the location.

They will definately sell out the condos
and raise the commercial rents on the ground floor of Centerpoint.

Who owns the Greensboro Inn Property?

Who is the listing agent for the surrounding properties?

How much more will Robbie's condo be worth?

I am sure Milton Kern is thrilled.

Roch Smith on the crap Don Jud spews, Ed Cone, Amanda Lehmert & the GN&Record's Jeff Gauger, possibly the worst thing that has happened to journalism in Greensboro since John Robinson and the Hammer brothers

Ed Cone and AB: Spanish bombs

Amanda: The manager hunt continues - I am Abner Doon in the comments

Jeff Gauger: In the comments

Roch Smith: Professor Marvel

Noise Problems in Other Cities from Norfolk Virginia

HAT TIP: Pilotonline.com

With all this talk lately about noise in downtown Greensboro it was interesting to see a article in the Virginian Pilot titled "Residents Say Norfolk Pub is Already Noisy", CLICKHERE


This from the article:
"Decker said he believes the problems stem partly from the burgeoning residential and commercial areas of downtown still learning to peacefully coexist.
"It's tough in any urban setting, Norfolk included, when you're trying to have a thriving downtown with restaurants and night life and places that people want to come visit, and you also want to have a residential community," Decker said. "There's a balance you want to try to meet."
Kevin Murphy, president of the Downtown Civic League, said downtowners are willing to accept a certain amount of noise. But they also expect the restaurants to make an effort to be considerate"


Nice to see other cities like Norfolk with some of the same problems as Greensboro.

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Porker of the Month ,Greensboro City Council Women Dianne Bellamy Small for the $90k Waste of Taxpayers Money Study

Lately we have had some great nominees for the Porker of the Year Awards handed out to our local government and their wasteful spending on harleys from Sheriff Barnes CLICKHERE and now we see in the Greensboro News and Record that T Dianne Bellamy Small and i am sure with the blessing of the Greensboro City Council throw away $90,000 on a study of East Greensboro and why retailers are not going tothis part of town.

The report titled,  STUDY: Eastern Greensboro Needs Retail CLICKHERE and in the comments section it has over 62 comments .

Here is a taste of what has been written in the comments:

BOSCO writes this

"Ask Tabb to take that 90 grand he just ripped off from the City and put it towards a down payment for a new East G'boro shopping center. I think you will find Mr.Tabb to be long gone. This ship of fools downtown can beat this dead horse without blowing the taxpayer's money on "consultants" that gladly give you the BS you want to hear and run all the way to their out of town bank"

Brian 444 writes this

"I applaud the consultant for making $90k for telling Ms. Bellamy-Small what she wished to hear. I would have done the job for half the price. Unfortunately, businesses such as Costco and Target cannot make a profit in the same manner, and need not locate their stores in undesirable locations such as those stipulated in the consultant's report. "

 Then we see that editorial board member of the Greensboro News and Record Allen Johnson have a blog post titled , "Does East Get The Least" CLICKHERE . This is what i had to say to Allen Johnson


"Why do you need to waste $90,000 when the mayor is president of one of the largest commercial real estate companies in area . Where should this development be in east Greensboro? Cone already retail, summit already retail, east market street has grocery and retail. Phillips avenue had grocery and not a desirable place for it but not far from summit or cone. Hicone road has retail and grocery. This study was a complete waste of taxpayers money but don't let you not point absurdity of the study. Will news and record do a public records request so that we can see the whole study and point out it's ridiculous points. Check out what Bosco said in comments on story and I agree 100%. This along with sheriff Barnes spending 86 grand on Harley's to drive around dignitaries is the guilford county porker of the month award from citizens against government waste.
Where is this area in question that needs the trebic cartel to come to? Please have the news and record produce the 90 grand study and really look at the study instead of sticking to talking points"

As i said above,  why would you need to spend 90k on a study when you have the Mayor of Greensboro Robbie Perkins from NAI Piedmont Triad who is president of one of the top five largest Triad Commercial realty brokerages in the area. They have at their fingertips every demographic probably known to man to show their clients where the best place to be is in regards to commercial development in Guilford County .

But as we see the City of Greensboro spearheaded by T. Dianne Bellamy Small waste the taxpayers money on some consultant from Atlanta named Michael Tabb from Red Rock Global to tell her what she needed to hear and bill the taxpayers $90,000 in the process.

This study will be nominated as our June Porker of the Month for the Guilford County edition of Citizens Against Government Waste.

A public records request will be forthcoming to see the whole study in it's entirety .