GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County voters will again be asked to vote on a quarter-cent sales tax increase. The measure is on the November ballot and will benefit Guilford County Schools, but you wouldn't know that by looking at it.
"It's important to know it's at the very bottom and it does not say it's for schools or educators and that's by state statute. You're not allowed to say what the sales tax is for," said Dr. Whitney Oakley, Superintendent of Guilford County Schools.
Voters will see the sales tax referendum, and it's at the very bottom of the ballot. Oakley says if voters say yes it could mean $25 million.
"This will help us make more fair compensation for our teachers and front-line workers like our HVAC workers so that hopefully we will be able to fairly compensate and have those repairs done in a more timely manner. So, being informed when you go to vote in November is critically important for the people who keep our schools running," said Oakley.
The sales tax increase is a fraction of a penny. Oakley used this example: it's 5 cents on a $20 pizza so what you used to pay $21.35 for you're now paying $21.40 for.
Similar measures have failed several times in recent years.
Now, before you say, "Why doesn't the NC Education Lottery take care of all this", you should know that since the NC Education Lottery started in 2006, lottery games have raised more than $10 billion for education. Last year, $1 billion was divided between the 100 counties. About 30% of lottery money goes to schools, and 70% goes to pay out lottery winnings.
The North Carolina General Assembly decides how the money will be used, not the schools or the districts. Last year this is how the General Assembly split up the money:
38% School Staff*
8% Pre-K
48% School Construction
4% Scholarships and Grants
2% Transportation.
But even these numbers need more context, for example, school staff. You might think that 38% of the money for school staff includes teachers. It doesn't. This is non-instructional support personnel.
Van Denton, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Lottery, confirmed, that money does not go to teacher salaries.
Again, this isn't the school system making that decision. The distribution numbers and categories are set up by your state lawmakers in the general assembly.