Randolph County residents take advantage of property tax discount

ASHEBORO — More than two-thirds of Randolph County property owners benefited from a discount for paying their tax bills early during the past fiscal year.

That report from county tax collector Debra Hill came during the first July meeting of county commissioners.

“Our citizens do take advantage of this 2 percent discount,” she said.

Hill’s numbers show that 68.96 percent of taxpayers took advantage of the discounts. That resulted in a total savings of $1,460,236 for residents on those tax bills.

For the fiscal year that just concluded, there were $738,748.83 in delinquent taxes.

Hill said Randolph County’s 99.25-percent collection rate was higher than fiscal year 2019-20 and also slightly better than the statewide average.

Mailing of tax bills for this fiscal year will come July 19. The early discount period ends Aug. 31, with the regular due date near the end of the year.

The county commissioners handled other business during the July meeting:

• The board approved an agreement to allow the City of Greensboro to purchase water earmarked for Randolph County. Under the arrangement, if approved by Greensboro’s council, the Guilford County city can purchase up to 1.25 million gallons of treated drinking water that would have been designated for Randolph County through the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority.

Commissioners were clear that Randolph County’s first obligation is to the Randolph County citizens. Associate county attorney Aimee Scotton said revisions of a submitted draft from Greensboro were made to protect Randolph County interests. “We get some revenue from water we’re not using,” commissioners chairman Darrell Frye said.

Greensboro is expected to consider the arrangement at a July 20 meeting.

• Piedmont Natural Gas has requested an easement on county-owned property. The company is seeking a right-of-way at the corner of intersection Julian Airport Road and Crutchfield Farm Road. The stretch of 1.32 acres is part of the Randolph-Guilford megasite. A public hearing on the topic has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at the old courthouse.

• Randolph County public health director Susan Hayes and Archdale Mayor Bertha “Bert” Stone were given special recognition for their recent retirements at the July meeting.

“Sometimes ‘thank-you’ is never enough,” Frye said of both women. 

Hayes stepped down June 1 after 34 years with the department. 

She received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine as bestowed by Gov. Roy Cooper. The honor goes to those who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities.

Frye listed many of Hayes’ accomplishments in her role. He commended her work for what has been described as a challenging past 15 months.

“I doubt you ever had a course that taught you what to do in the middle of a pandemic,” Frye said.

Stone became Randolph County’s second female mayor. Her stint of more than 20 years in that role made her one of the longest-serving mayors in county history. Her last day in the position was June 30.

Stone, who previously served on the Archdale city council giving her a total of nearly three decades in city government, called it an “exciting adventure.”