Well, it’s that time of year again – the time when the Guilford County Board of Commissioners turns its focus solidly toward the next county budget, the all-important 2024-2025 fiscal budget that will determine how the county spends its money for the 12 months beginning on July 1, 2024.
That will be a topic of discussion at a Board of Commissioners work session that the county just scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, in the Carolyn Coleman Conference Room on the first floor of the Old Guilford County Court House in downtown Greensboro.
There’s some good news this year when it comes to the budget. Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, who calls the shots when it comes to Guilford County government, said this week that there would be no tax rate increase this year.
He said that, though the county is pulling in a lot of extra revenue each year from the countywide revaluation of property in 2022, that “extra” money is largely already designated.
“That money is going to pay off school bonds,” Alston said.
At the April 18 work session, the board is officially scheduled to “hold Fiscal Year 24/25 budget planning discussions and review Board priorities.”
One of the issues to be discussed in the context of the upcoming budget is the county’s compensation plan for employees. Alston acknowledges that the board has been generous with benefits and employee pay in recent years; however, he added that, in this job market, it’s really a necessity to treat your best employees very well.
“I always hope to keep our employees from seeking greener pastures,” Alston said, adding that other local governments are always going after the same talent.
“You see it with the Sheriff’s Department,” Alston said. “They may go to Forsyth County or Alamance County because they can get $2,000 or $3,000 a year more.”
At the afternoon work session, the Board of Commissioners is also scheduled to receive an update on Phase 1 of Guilford Technical Community College’s Aviation Training Center project, which is designed largely to make sure that there’s an adequate skilled local workforce to feed into the new aviation megasite at Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Now that y’all are swimming in money, how about some tax relief for the people of Guilford County?
I agree, They think money grows on trees for us retirees. They are bleeding us dry and nothing to show for it. How about cutting wasteful spending for a change.
The folk who work to create wealth are struggling, while those who live off our labor are on Easy Street, with millions to throw away.
It’s not right.
“He said that, though the county is pulling in a lot of extra revenue each year from the countywide revaluation of property in 2022, that “extra” money is largely already designated. “
Since Guilford County voters turned down a sales tax increase we’re being sucked dry by property taxes and we can thank Skippy for that. He doesn’t like to lose.
What is “extra money”? What do you call the kommissar’s “work session”?