Tonight the Guilford County Manager will present his Annual budget to the Commissioners for the year 2006/2007.  The Budget is expected to be approximately 540 million dollars, with a projected tax increase of 9 cents.

After the Manager presents his idea of a budget to the County Commissioners, then the Commissioners will have a chance to change, add or delete some of the items that might be in the Manager's budget.  It is always the Commissioners budget that is passed in June, not the Manger's budget.

Starting next week, May 24, the Commissioners will hear from various department heads concerning their budget request.  So of the department heads will be in favor of what the Manager has recommended concerning their department budget and some will not.  The Sheriff is asking for an additional 100 officers to man the jail.  However, according to the News and Record's article this morning, the Manager will not be recommending any additional staff. The school system is asking for an additional 15 million dollars this year. What the Manager will recommend I don't know.  However, the school system always asking for double the amount that they really need and usually end up settling for that, or a couple million dollar over that. So they might get around 8 0r 9 million, if that from the Commissioners

The public will get a chance to give their opinion on the Manger's budget on June 7, at 5:30pm at the Commissioners meeting room on the second floor of the Old Guilford County Court House.  Please come out and let your voices be heard. 

If not, your silence might indicate that you are in favor of a 9 cent tax increase, or more.