April is National County Government Month and Guilford County government is using the occasion to remind residents of the scope and number of services the county provides. A press release sent out by the county on Tuesday, April 1 noted a multitude of accomplishments in 2024.

The county does provide some valuable services; however, the release didn’t remind people that those services come at quite a cost: the county’s budget has grown by hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years, since providing all these services comes at a high price.

 In 2022, property owners saw huge increases in their property tax bills, and, with another countywide revaluation set for 2026, those who pay property taxes in the county are bracing for another very large increase next year.

Still, citizens are getting something in return for all that money – and the county used the start of National County Government Month to highlight some of those services.

Here are some examples:

  • In 2024, Guilford County Veterans Services assisted more than 5,300 veterans and clients.
  • Last year, Guilford County Animal Services processed more than 6,600 pet adoptions and administered over 1,000 rabies vaccines to animals.
  • Also, the Animal Control Division responded to more than 14,300 calls for service.
  • In 2024, Guilford County Emergency Medical Services responded to over 81,400 calls.
  • In 2024, the Guilford County Adult Resource Team – an innovative collaboration between Social Services’ Division of Adult Protective Services and EMS – assisted more than 160 residents by providing a stronger service line for patients who need resources and care that go above and beyond normal EMS capabilities. That team works with people who are very frequent callers to 911.
  • The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office responded to more than 59,700 dispatched and self-initiated calls for service.
  • Last year, the Guilford County Family Justice Center assisted over 13,000 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse.
  • The Guilford County Division of Public Health’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program launched its mobile unit last April – already assisting more than 200 clients since its launch. In 2024, according to the new stats provided by the county, the WIC Program assisted over 13,000 clients through its two offices in the county.
  • Last year, the Guilford County Division of Social Services processed more than 133,000 benefits applications and over 154,000 recertifications. (In late 2023, Social Services established a new Division of Health Benefits to address Medicaid Expansion. And, as of March 2025, more than 38,900 county residents have been enrolled into Medicaid as part of that expansion.)

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has encouraged counties across the country “to raise public awareness about county roles and responsibilities during National County Government Month in the month of April.”

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston released a statement accompanying the long list of stats.  He said that county leaders were “dedicated to continually improving the programs and services that benefit our community,” and he added that “National County Government Month is a perfect opportunity for residents to get to know more about the essential services we provide, from public safety to health and human services.”

Alston concluded, “We strongly encourage everyone to attend our budget town halls and community resource fairs to see firsthand how Guilford County is working for you.”

This month, the Board of Commissioners is hosting budget town halls to get input from citizens as to what services should be well funded in the coming fiscal 2025-2026 budget, which will be adopted in June.

While Guilford County government is serving more and more people with an expanding number of programs, it is expensive to do so. As the Rhino Times reported last summer, in the last four years, since the Democrats took over control the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, the board has increased the county’s budget by roughly $200 million – that’s more than four times greater than the previous Republican-led Board of Commissioners did in the eight years controlling the board from 2012 to 2020.

In the eight years of Republican rule, Guilford County’s budget increased by a total of $48 million, while, in half that time – four years – the Democrats on the board have quadrupled that amount of an increase in spending.

But it is certainly fair to say that, in addition to very generously funding Guilford County Schools, Guilford County has been expanding and adding other services.

To continue with the April 1 Guilford County-by-the-numbers press release, here are some other stats from last year.

  • In 2024, the NC Cooperative Extension – Guilford County Center offered more than 400 educational training courses and workshops, of which nearly 11,500 residents attended.
  • The county’s park system – which includes 7 regional parks, 10 passive parks, and over 30 miles of trails and greenways and 4,500 acres of open space, collectively attracted more than 700,000 visitors.

In fiscal year 2024-2025, the Guilford County Manager’s Office and the Budget Department oversaw the county’s budget of $834 million.

Here are some other services that money funded:

  • The Guilford County Board of Elections processed more than 44,700 new voter registrations in 2024 and, annually, it currently supports over 391,000 registered voters.
  • In March 2025, the Guilford County Communications Department launched a new redesigned Guilford County website focused on accessibility with a “resident-focused experience and design.”

The same April 1 press release noted some additional services and events the county was providing.  For instance, the Cooperative Extension is hosting an art exhibit, “Framing the Future: A Photovoice Exploration of Food Justice” on Friday, April 4, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nussbaum Center For Entrepreneurship.

Also, Every Baby Guilford will host a Black Maternal Health Week Family Day on Saturday, April 12, at Center City Park from 12 to 4 p.m. The Family Justice Center will observe Denim Day on Wednesday, April 30, to raise awareness about sexual violence and support survivors.

You can visit guilfordcountync.gov for more community events.

Guilford County residents are being encouraged to follow Guilford County on Facebook, Instagram, X , Nextdoor and LinkedIn to see how Guilford County “is working to fulfill a vision of Successful People in a Strong Community supported by Quality Government.”

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