The Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a $833.7 million budget for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 on Thursday, June 20, 2024. The Board of Commissioners’ adopted budget maintains the current property tax rate of 73.05₵ per $100 while funding the county’s mandated essential core services, investing in public and higher education, and supporting workforce and economic development.
“This year’s budget demonstrated great collaboration between the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and the Guilford County Board of Education. By optimizing bond funds and working closely together, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners were able to balance the budget while allocating additional funds to school operational funding and school maintenance needs,” said Board of County Commissioner Chair Melvin “Skip” Alston. “We will continue to work strategically to establish a long-term funding plan to address our community’s education needs while ensuring that the county’s essential services are maintained. This year’s budget allows us to do both. It includes ongoing efforts to support the wellbeing of our residents, maintain quality health and human services, assist residents through the new e-Court processes, and invest in our local and regional economic development efforts.”
Highlights of the Board of Commissioners’ adjustment to the recommended budget include:
- The annual budget continues investments in education by allocating more than $460.9 million, about 50% of the General Fund and Debt Service Fund, to support Guilford County Schools (GCS) and Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), including funding for operations, capital outlay, and repayment of voter-approved school bonds
- $10 million in additional operating funds for Guilford County Schools. The adopted budget provides more than $430 million for the school system’s operational and capital needs, including $270.2 million in operating support for GCS, $10.0 million in capital outlay, $52.1 million to support future debt repayment on the $1.7 billion voter-approved school bond referendum, and $99.3 million in school bond debt repayment. This is a total increase in investment in Guilford County Schools of $36.2 million over the prior budget.
- Of this allocation, the Board of Commissioners intends for Guilford County Schools to prioritize $25 million for school maintenance and repair.
- $19 million for GTCC to support current operations
- $500,000 to establish a property tax relief program for qualified residents
- $855,000 to support strategies included in the Opioid Settlement Strategic Plan, including medication assisted treatment and recovery beds for the residential treatment facility at Gibson Park and the upcoming Lees Chapel Residential Recovery Center
- Adoption fees for senior cats and senior dogs at the Guilford County Animal Resource Center to remain at current prices, $10 for senior cats and $25 for senior dogs
During its June 17 work session, the Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to establish a standing budget committee for County Commissioners to work together with the Guilford County Board of Education to examine and research sustainable funding opportunities for the future investment in education and to allow each governing body to better understand existing funding mandates and service needs.
Additionally, during the June 20 board meeting, County Commissioners approved a resolution calling for an advisory referendum in November 2024 concerning the levy of a ¼ cent sales tax. If approved by voters in November, Commissioners intend to use the funds to increase the county’s local supplement towards compensation for teachers and classified employees. The ¼ cent sales tax referendum is estimated to generate $6.25 million for fiscal year 2025 and annual revenue of about $25 million.
Additional highlights from the budget include:
- The recommended total for all budgeted funds is $1.02 billion. The county’s main operating fund, the General Fund, will total $833.7 million.
- $1.7 million for Community Based Organizations (CBO) and $565,000 for Economic Development Organizations (EDO).
- The budget includes a total of 2,971.75 county positions, a slight reduction from the previous fiscal year. This is equivalent to about 5.3 positions per 1,000 residents, one of the lowest position-to-resident ratios in the state.
- The approved budget includes nine new positions to address mandated functions and services. These additions are funded through updated revenue projections, additional fund balance, and other reductions in the budget.
- $360,000 for five Adult Protective Services (APS) positions to enhance the ability and capacity of Adult Protective Services to respond to additional reports and instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The State will reimburse 50% of expenses.
- $90,000 for one new fire plans examiner and vehicle to support timely inspections of school bond projects.
- $175,000 for one new paralegal and one new county attorney to support mandated eCourt expansion, which impacts cases involving social service cases.
- One Communications and Public Relations position to supplement compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice’s April 2024 publication of its final rule on website accessibility for state and local governments under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- These new positions are offset by a reduction of 10 positions that were previously funded by non-county revenues that are no longer available.
- $2.0 million for Deputy Sheriff and Detention Officers pay to address vacancy rates.
- $2.1 million to support the county's performance-based merit program consisting of a merit pool equivalent of 3%. Performance merits will be effective the first full pay period in March 2025.
About Guilford County Annual Budget Process:
Development of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 budget began in fall 2023 with the preparation of early economic forecasts; assessments of major equipment, technology, and facility needs; initial revenue and expense estimates; and a review of state legislative changes. Departmental budget requests were refined in early 2024 and updated revenue and expense projections were presented to the Board of Commissioners at its annual planning retreat in March 2024. The Board of Commissioners held a series of Budget Town Halls in March to hear from residents about their priorities for next fiscal year. Following the County Manager’s presentation of the FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget, the Board held a series of budget work sessions in May and June to hear from community partners, including Guilford Technical Community College and Guilford County Schools. A public hearing to receive residents’ comments regarding the budget was held on June 6, 2024. The Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2024-25 budget on June 20, 2024.
Fiscal Year 2025 begins July 1, 2024, and runs through June 30, 2025. The FY2024-25 budget ordinance can be found on the Guilford County website.