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Forsyth County, North Carolina, Sales Tax (March 2020)
| Forsyth County Sales Tax | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date March 3, 2020 | |
| Topic Local sales tax | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for voters in Forsyth County, North Carolina, on March 3, 2020.[1] It was approved.
| A "yes" vote supported authorizing the county to impose a 0.25% sales tax, thereby increasing the total county rate to 7%. |
| A "no" vote opposed authorizing the county to impose a 0.25% sales tax, thereby maintaining the tax rate of 6.75%. |
At the time of the election, the sales tax rate was 6.75%. The measure increased the rate to 7%. Revenues from the tax are dedicated to public education, including teacher salary increases. A simple majority was required for the approval of sales tax measure. The sales tax would exclude grocery and gasoline sales.[2]
In 2018, 68% of Forsyth County voters rejected a 0.25% local sales tax.
Election results
|
Forsyth County, North Carolina, Sales Tax (March 2020) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
48,180 | 59.70% | ||
| No | 32,528 | 40.30% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (0.25%) in addition to all other State and local sales and use taxes.[3] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
If you are aware of any supporters or arguments that should be listed here, please send them to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Supporters
- Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce[4]
- Forsyth County Association of Educators[5]
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Council of Parent Teacher Associations[5]
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or arguments that should be listed here, please send them to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Media editorials
- See also: 2020 ballot measure media endorsements
Support
- Winston-Salem Journal: “The extra revenue would allow the county to increase the salary supplement of every teacher in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school by $2,000 to $3,000 a year. ... For the good of our children and, ultimately, the community, we urge voters to vote for the 'Forsyth County Local Sales and Use Tax.'"[6]
Opposition
Ballotpedia had not identified media editorial boards in opposition to the ballot measure. If you are aware of a media editorial board position, please email the editorial link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Background
Purpose of the sales tax
North Carolina state law does not permit the purpose of a sales tax measure to be printed with the ballot language. In the resolution approved by the Forsyth Board of Commissioners, it specifies that the revenue would help "fund the educational needs of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools system."[6][1]
Sales tax in North Carolina
At the time of the election, the state sales tax rate was 4.75%. The total sales tax rate—state and local combined—ranges between 4.75% to 7.5%. The maximum local rate is 2.75%.[7]
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on September 26, 2019.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Forsyth County Board of Commisioners, "Resolution and Ballot Language," accessed February 28, 2020
- ↑ Forsyth Count, "Commissioners Place Quarter-Cent Sales Tax for Education on March Ballot," September 27, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Yes Weekly, "The Winston-Salem Chamber Supports the Quarter-Cent Sales Tax," February 13, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Journal Now, "Teacher pay boost and quarter-cent sales tax increase are focus of Forsyth County groups," February 8, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Winston-Salem Journal, “Our view: A sales tax to support,” February 15, 2020
- ↑ Avalara, "North Carolina sales tax details," accessed February 28, 2020
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