In the end, the ultimate decision will be made by the Greensboro City Council when the councilmembers vote to approve a fiscal 2024-2025 city budget next month; however, on Tuesday, May 21, at the Greensboro City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Chris Wilson presented a recommended budget for the coming 12 months starting July 1 that totaled just under $802 million.

The City Council isn’t shy about raising property taxes, but the recommended budget would keep the property tax rate the same –  67.25 cents per $100 of assessed property value. Guilford County government isn’t raising the tax rate this year, so if the city keeps this part of the proposed budget, property owners in Greensboro shouldn’t see a property tax increase this year.

Water, sewer and stormwater rates are recommended to increase by just over 9 percent on average – meaning the city’s typical customer would pay about $4.59 more every month.

Wilson said his budget attempts to be fiscally responsible while still providing needed services.

He stated, “The City of Greensboro has advanced some significant improvements in recent years to benefit our employee compensation and address a growing need for capacity building in services. This year, we will attempt to balance this with increased costs for services and goods, slowed growth in certain revenues, and a concern for residents who are shouldering the same considerations. The proposed budget reflects our commitment to responsible fiscal management while continuing to provide services that improve the quality of life for the residents of Greensboro and our more than 3,300 dedicated employees.”

The budget proposed by the interim manager includes efforts to provide “competitive salaries” for city employees so they don’t seek employment elsewhere in a thriving job market. It also includes a new $20-per hour minimum wage as well as increases in starting salaries for new Guilford Metro 911 workers, police and firefighters.

The proposed budget, if adopted, would also add positions for the Behavioral Health Team and the Transportation Department’s new Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program.

Proposed budgets usually get changed somewhat before ultimate adoption however, when it comes to most local governments, the manager’s budget remains the heart of what ultimately gets adopted.

The proposed budget continues the city’s focus on affordable housing and the Housing GSO Plan and it includes money to expand the Tenant Education Advocacy Mediation program.

There’s a lot of roadwork provided for in the budget presented to the council Tuesday by the interim manager: It includes funds to repave 77 streets, add 22 miles of water and sewer lines, continue the downtown Hopper Trolley service, and provide better service to heavily used Greensboro Transit Agency bus routes. The proposed budget also calls for the City of Greensboro to invest over $10 million in infrastructure and maintenance needs at the Bog Garden, Lake Townsend, and neighborhood parks, as well as major gateway corridor improvements.

If you have input you would like to give the  City Council, the council will hold a public hearing on the recommended budget at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, in the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber room at the Melvin Municipal Office Building at 300 W. Washington Street.  Greensboro residents may also offer feedback on the budget by completing the Budget Priorities Survey or exploring the City’s online budget simulator, Balancing Act, now through Tuesday, June 4.

The manager’s budget presentation and the recommended budget is available online at www.greensboro-nc.gov/Budget.

The Greensboro City Council expects to vote to approve a final budget at the council’s Tuesday, June 18 meeting.

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