Several North Carolina counties put a sales tax referendum on the primary ballot to help pay for education. In Forsyth County, voters approved a measure to boost teacher pay.
The quarter-cent sales tax is earmarked for teacher supplements in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School district. Local commissioners say it's expected to generate around $13 million the first year. That would amount to around $2,000 to $3,000 for each teacher.
School officials say the increases are needed to retain and recruit employees and compete with nearby counties that offer higher supplements.
Val Young, president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators, says it's a big step forward for the community.
“It was just really exciting because when you say the word 'sales tax' people are like, 'Oh my God, are you going to charge me something else?'" says Young. "That's what the hard sell is, but I'm just so happy that our taxpayers put a value behind what we are doing with our children in the classroom.”
Another effect of approving the proposal will be that the Forsyth County property tax rate will be reduced by one penny per $100.
Residents in Alamance and Stokes County also voted on a proposed sales tax increase that would help fund education-related improvements. Both of those measures failed.
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