South Guilford News

During the May 16 City Council meeting, Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba presented a $749.5 million recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The recommended budget includes a 4-cent property tax rate increase to 67.25 per $100 property valuation and a water rates increase of 8.5 percent.

The manager’s budget presentation and the recommended budget will be available online at www.greensboro-nc.gov/Budget at noon on Wednesday, May 17.

“In the last year, our region has seen record-setting economic growth and announcements of new jobs. These positive developments affect residents with regards to housing, transportation, public safety, amenities and quality of life services. We can no longer approach development in a business as usual mindset. The Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget responds to these impacts,” said Jaiyeoba. “This proposed budget incorporates the priorities of City Council to move forward together by supporting our employees and investing in our City’s growth. We have a great opportunity to be a City that is economically competitive, driven by the desire to deliver services to our community in an equitable manner, resolved to be an employer of choice, and capable of meeting our present and future challenges.”

The proposed budget shores up the City’s ability to expedite the development review process and address the increased pace of growth with new positions in Fire, Planning, Engineering and Inspections, Transportation, and Water Resources departments. It provides additional resources for economic development incentives and to cover inflationary increases for goods and services.

The budget proposal includes a $250,000 property tax relief program and water bill assistance options for low-income homeowners and residents. The City maintains one of the lowest water rates compared to other North Carolina cities.

The recommended budget reinforces the City’s goal to attract the most skilled workforce in a difficult labor market by providing competitive pay structures for City employees, increasing employee minimum wage and increasing starting salaries for police officers by 10.6 percent and firefighters and Guilford Metro 911 employees by 4 percent.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the recommended Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget at 5:30 pm, June 6. Residents can learn more about the recommended budget and provide feedback by accessing the City’s online budget simulator, Balancing Act beginning at noon, Wednesday, May 17.

The City Council is expected to vote on the budget Tuesday, June 20.

Original source can be found here