Guilford County Homeowners Plan Protests After Reappraisal Notices Spark Tax Fears

Guilford County and Greensboro homeowners say 2026 reappraisal notices sent in late February have already triggered a surge of appeals and plans for protests at municipal meetings. “More than 2,600 Guilford County homeowners have filed appeals on their property values in the week since value notices were mailed, according to Ben Chavis, tax director for Guilford County,” county officials reported, while organizers called for residents to attend Greensboro City Council and Guilford County Commissioners meetings to press elected officials.

Organizers are planning two protests tied to local government sessions. WGHP reported the group will “take the fight to the Greensboro City Council meeting” on Monday and “to the county commissioners meeting” on Thursday; resident spokesman Mike Perdue urged a larger turnout, saying “It’s not going to work if it’s only 100 or 200 of us down here. We need to fill these city streets down here on Tuesday night. We need people to get up, drive downtown, show up Tuesday night, show up Thursday night at these meetings.”

Perdue, who said he received mailed reappraisal letters for three properties “about two weeks ago,” told reporters he believes the notices will sharply raise bills. “I got a letter about two weeks ago … in the mail with three of my properties that it’s going to increase in taxes. My taxes went up about 73 percent,” Perdue said, and warned of downstream impacts: “I’m concerned about other people that can’t afford an extra $150-$200 more on their mortgage or in their rent. A lot of renters don’t understand their rent’s gonna go up.”

Local tax structure adds context to residents’ concerns. WGHP explained that property taxes in Guilford County are layered: everyone pays a county tax, Greensboro residents also pay a city tax, and people outside city limits pay a separate fire district tax; those layers mean valuation increases can “stack” unless city council or county commissioners lower rates. Perdue told reporters he thinks the valuations may be largely accurate but said responsibility for relieving bills falls to elected officials: “When I looked at things, the property value is probably pretty close to correct. Guilford County’s taxes … always been very low, so they probably got that part right, but now the city council and the county commissioners have the authority to adjust the tax rate and neutralize what people’s bills are.”

County staff compared current activity to the last reappraisal and urged residents to use available procedures. WFMY News 2 noted 4,900 appeals were filed during the 2022 reappraisal and reported county staff said the present number of appeals “is not alarming.” County staff encouraged homeowners who believe their value is incorrect to file a challenge, noting that “filing an appeal is a standard part of the reappraisal procedure.”

With protests scheduled to coincide with city and county meetings and more than 2,600 appeals already logged in the first week after notices, Greensboro and Guilford County officials will face immediate pressure to explain valuations, the appeals timeline, and whether tax rates will be adjusted to blunt what some homeowners characterize as steep increases.