FAQs

Guilford County is one of 4 counties in NC that DOES NOT receive a teacher supplement for our public-school educators. A “low wealth supplement” formula excluded Guilford County from receiving this funding even though 31% of Guilford County residents are Medicaid eligible and 57.4% of GCS students are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Our kids deserve the best, but right now our teachers have been paid a salary supplement that, on average, is 35% less than teachers in Forsyth, Durham, Wake, and Mecklenburg Counties. Guilford Count must be able to attract and retain quality teachers and frontline workers, like bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.  Equitable pay is a large part of that.

County Officials estimate that A FRACTION OF A PENNY sales tax will bring in $25 million to allow an increase in pay for teachers and frontline workers.

The fraction of a penny sales tax increase adds ONE PENNY to every four dollars spent.  The tax increase WILL NOT apply to gas, groceries, motor vehicles or prescription drugs.  As an example, for a $20 pizza, the sales tax increase would mean an increase of .5 cents – funds that would go towards supporting our educators.

Guilford County is the top Triad county and fifth in the state for tourism spending and that is only on the increase. Investments like the Tanger Center, the Guilford Aquatics Center, the First National Bank Field (home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers) and the Truist Point Stadium (home of the High Point Rockers and Carolina Core Football Club) draw visitors to our county and bring in revenue. Events like NC Folk Festival, NC A &T State University’s Homecoming and the High Point International Home Furnishing Market also generate large numbers of revenue. It’s time for Guilford County, like many other counties in NC, leverage our tourism dollars.

Just last year, tourism brought in $1.6 billion, double what the County earned in 2020.  A fraction of a penny sales tax means that visitors to our county will help pay for an increase in salary for teachers and frontline workers.  Attracting and retaining quality teachers and frontline workers will only make our schools stronger. It just makes cents!

NC ranks 38th in the nation in terms of teacher compensation, behind South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. 

Guilford County was also one of 4 counties left out of additional funds for teacher salaries via a supplement increase. On average, teacher pay supplement in Guilford County are 35% lower than those in peer counties.  The NC Legislature’s lack of support for teacher and frontline worker salaries puts a heavy burden on local government to fill the gaps. 

A fraction of a penny sales tax increase would raise approximately $25 million annually to supplement teacher and frontline worker pay in Guilford County. 46 other NC counties have implemented a similar sales tax increase with positive results. 

N.C. began selling lottery tickets in 2007 and lottery sales and revenue have steadily increased since then. A little more than .27 cents on every dollar spent on a lottery ticket  or 30% of lottery revenue actually goes toward education. Lottery funds are divided between prize money, marketing, retailers’ costs, staffing and other expenses. 

Even if the lottery gave 100% of its revenue to schools, it would only cover about 19% of the state’s total budget for K-12 schools (source: dpi.nc.gov).

Put a sign in your yard to show our neighbors that you support educators. Share information on social media – your voice matters.

Sharing information at the polls can help local voters make an educated decision about the sales tax increase. 

Volunteer with us at the polls – either during early voting or one election day!  Education funding can be complicated.  To sign up to work the polls, click here.