The Guilford County Manager presented his budget proposal to the County Commissioners on Thursday, May 17 and it calls for a 6.9% tax increase.  The total budget is projected to be approximately 561 million dollars.

The public hearing on the budget will be June 7, 2007 at 5:30pm in the Commissioner meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Old Guilford County Court House.  The public will have 3 minutes each to give their comments on the proposed budget.  

A sneak preview is as follow:  The Manager's budget calls for the School system to get an additional 11 million dollars.  The School system asked for an additional 15 million dollars.  The Manager is recommending increases in this year's budget also in the following departments,  Sheriff department an additional 2.6 million, the Health Dept. 1.5 million, Mental Health 1.7 million, Social Services 2.3 million, Emergency Services 1.8 million, Medical Assistance 1.3 million, Culture-Recreation 1.1 million, GTCC Operating funds 1.2 million, Capital Outlay 2 million and Guilford County Schools payment for debt services an additional 8.8 million.  There are several other departments that the Manager is recommending increase funding for which are below one million dollars each.  What the public will get for these increase, I have not determined yet.

The total increase in the Manager's proposed budget for this year is approximately 41 million dollars of new tax payers  money.  The County Commissioners will have an opportunity to cut some of this spending, which I as one Commissioner plan to do.  I can easily see 8 million dollars of cuts or reallocations of funds.  I will be discussing some of these possibilities with the Manager and my fellow Commissioners over the next few weeks before the budget is adopted. 

I will also make this budget available to several organizations and individuals in my district that will help me analyze this budget and make recommendations for cuts and/or additions.  A copy of the budget is also available for public review in the Guilford County Clerks office. 

Please feel free to post your comments and/or concerns about this budget on this blog.  Again, the public hearing on the budget is June 7, 2007 at 5:30pm.  I hope to see you there!