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County manager proposes $585 million budget that won't raise taxes

Friday, May 8, 2009

(Updated 2:24 pm)

By Gerald Witt
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — Property owners won’t see a tax increase in 2009-10 under a $585 million budget proposal from County Manager Brenda Jones Fox, but schools won’t see a funding increase either.

Under Fox’s budget, Guilford County Schools would get $175 million for its 2009-10 operating budget, roughly the same as for the current year, but would lose $3 million from its capital funding.

Capital funding pays for maintenance projects such as roof repairs, boilers and heating and air conditioning.

Schools Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green called Fox’s budget reasonable, but said he expects the schools will speak with commissioners about the maintenance funds.

“This is a conversation that we will have to have,” he said.

Public library funding would be cut by $490,000, but Fox’s budget increases funding for community organizations by more than $500,000 over this year.

Greensboro and High Point libraries have had regular funding increases in recent years, but the cut this year would put them back to funding levels from two years ago.

Fox recommended funding for the Greensboro library be cut by $400,000, and for the High Point library by $90,000.

Jamestown and Gibsonville libraries would not see any cuts under her recommendation.

“This is the hardest year for the budget,” Fox said after presenting her $585 million budget Thursday.

Now, county commissioners begin working on what will receive public funding next year. The Board of Commissioners must pass the budget by July 1.

Passing the county’s budget is the single most significant action commissioners take in a year, and sets funding policy for schools, law enforcement, social services and other public services.

The county manager’s recommended budget usually sets up the foundation for what departments are cut or funded from year-to-year.

Often only county employees work on the budget before handing it to commissioners, but this year’s process included select commissioners early on in meetings with department heads.

Steve Arnold, board vice chairman, worked on a budget committee to oversee some cuts and alongside Fox in some of her budget meetings.

He had some kind words for the budget, which is $1.1 million less than the budget for the current year.

“I’m not sure that it really settled in, to this year, that what an outstanding accomplishment and achievement this is,” he said.

“Typically the county budgets have increased about $30 million a year.”

Arnold led a budget committee with other commissioners selected by Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston.

Arnold also sat in on closed-door meetings held by Fox to discuss county funding.

Commissioner Paul Gibson, who was not included in early budget conversations, said he’s unhappy with the cuts to library funding and other aspects of the budget.

“No way can I support the budget,” he said. “There’s $500,000 in new (community organization) funding.”

A copy of the county’s budget proposal will be made available for the public at the county headquarters, and online at http://www.co.guilford.nc.us.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Margaret Baxter (News & Record)

BUDGET SCHEDULE

The schedule for the county’s budget:

May 21: Public hearing on the manager’s budget recommendation.

May 28: Budget work session for county commissioners.

June 4: Public hearing on commissioners budget.

June 18: Adoption of budget.

July 1: State deadline to adopt a budget.

COUNTY MANAGER'S BUDGET PROPOSAL

Overall: $585 million, $1.1 million less than the current budget.

Revenue: Expected $17.4 million decline in 2009-10, due largely to sales tax drop.

Property tax base: Expected to grow by 1.9 percent, lowest rate of growth since 2003-04.
Schools

Operating: $175 million, same as current year.

Maintenance: $4 million, $3 million less than current year.

Library:

Greensboro: $400,000 reduction.
High Point: $90,000 reduction.

What do you think?

21 comment(s)

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Lakeshia

May 8, 2009 - 7:18 am EDT

I'm disappointed that the budget is not smaller - cut all county services by five percent and cut county taxes by a corresponding five percent. Give me fewer services and fewer taxes !

scottb

May 8, 2009 - 8:42 am EDT

What services would you prefer to sacrifice? Remember, you're not the only one using County services. There are a lot of services you, personally, will never use but are important for others. To make a blanket statement like that really helps no one.

Wilhammer

May 8, 2009 - 8:41 am EDT

Yeah, let's stop enforcing the law, put the kids out of school, shut off the power, sewer and trash services, close the libraries, and fire all the government workers, and end road maintenance.

We can bring back dysentery, smallpox, anarchy, and rule by the savage spirit, and cut down on the population.

If we can lower life expectancy, stop driving cars, let all the infrastructure rot, we can save the Earth and stop taxation.

Excellent plan!

rfisher

May 8, 2009 - 8:50 am EDT

The public library is one of the most important areas for learning and research that we have. Cutting funds to this area may seem trivial to our county officials, but when was the last time they visited or relied on the services they provide. Yes the internet has changed the way we research and learn, but not everything is on the internet. Open a book READ. IM's and other texting is destroying the way we communicate. Apparently the county wants to contribute to this problem by eliminating jobs and support to the library system.

And....when was the last time your kid came home from school on a rainy day and told you how many cans there were in the hallway collecting water that was coming through the roof. True story....sad but true.

Get A Clue

May 8, 2009 - 9:08 am EDT

When times get tougher, always cut access to knowledge and education first, and deepest.
Then wonder why things don't get better.

superwoman

May 8, 2009 - 10:29 am EDT

"I’m not sure that it really settled in, to this year, that what an outstanding accomplishment and achievement this is,"......seriously? And he had "kind words" to say about the budget being $1.1 million lower....are those the same kind words that are the reason so many on the smaller side of the pay scale have lost their jobs?

"Typically county budgets have increased..." Guilford County has grown ...that isn't rocket science. The taxpayers may not have to pay in dollars, like on our taxes, but wont we pay by waiting in line, waiting on the phone, waiting for email answers, waiting for letters in the mail, .....etc.....The work load doesn't lighten when you reduce the force that does the work....and I mean the ones who actually DO the work...not dictate the work.

Bilbo

May 8, 2009 - 10:54 am EDT

Here's the deal, back in the 1980's, Regan and the GOP started cutting federal taxes....the TRICKLE DOWN effect was that the states had to pick up the slack for BASIC services.....as their revenue shrunk because of job losses and outsourcing, the state then had to force localitiies in picking up more of the slack....and here we are...no money for the most bacis of services on the local level....you can't have roads, law-enforcement, educators, libraries, etc., without paying for them....

Wilhammer

May 8, 2009 - 11:02 am EDT

So, cutting taxes can be a bad thing. Good point.

Roads and Schools are not going to build or maintain themselves.

I think some folks are totally in the not know a thing column on economics.

When private demand goes down, stability in an economy like ours requires government spending.

After all, our economy grows because of SPENDING; nothing else.

Wilhammer

May 8, 2009 - 11:11 am EDT

Really, how many lower paying jobs in County government can be saved if we just cut one commissioner? It irks me that those who do the cutting always sacrifice others - no intergrity, no morality, no compassion, no sense of civil responsibility. Just pandering.

clay

May 8, 2009 - 10:46 am EDT

I think they should cut library funding more. Perhaps no organization in either the City of Greensboro or High Point is run more inefficiently.

Bilbo

May 8, 2009 - 10:55 am EDT

Do you audit their books or are you just making a generalization?????

Wilhammer

May 8, 2009 - 10:56 am EDT

I like blanket statements that LACK any evidence.

To declare it so does not make it so. Proof please.

Oh, and data is NOT the plural of anecdote.

clay

May 8, 2009 - 11:08 am EDT

The proof is in their budgets, look them up sometime. As far as their book budgets go, it keeps dropping while the salaries of their administrative department (the largest department in either Greensboro or High Point library) and their computer budgets keep going up. Both libraries would better serve the public if it had more public service staff and less administrators. Perhaps, I am overgeneralizing. I'm sure another person representing the library's "Friends" groups will correct me again.

Wilhammer

May 8, 2009 - 11:18 am EDT

Show us where to look - that tactic to tell us to look without the place to look is anecdotal too.

rfisher

May 8, 2009 - 11:19 am EDT

Computer budget and similar spending allows the library system to pick up the slack of the education system in Guilford County as well as providing internet accessability to those who may not have the ability to do so.

clay

May 8, 2009 - 12:21 pm EDT

I do not disagree with your point, however this money would be better served if it were given to the education system. Perhaps then, libraries would not be needed to pick up the slack, jack.

fatboyfanuci

May 8, 2009 - 12:24 pm EDT

Da noyve of dat broad, cuttin' my liberry's funding! Why I oughta...

tybalt

May 8, 2009 - 10:35 pm EDT

Both of those libraries have enormous book and computer budgets and administrative salaries, and to have them cut fractionally will not hurt them. If you saw the amount of money that is wasted between the two you would be sickened. Stupid team-building exercises, and staff development days, high paid consultants with ulterior motives, wasteful purchases, and personality testing of employees. Whooosh- money down the drain. What they get from the county is, in the grand scheme of things small, because they are municipal libraries. It will not hurt them, especially High Point, one little bit to be cut $90,000- heck, they have a $600,000 budget for books alone! It would be devastating to Jamestown to lose their county funding.
Of course, the corrupt administration at High Point will probably just eliminate three positions to cover that
figure while keeping the flotsam and jettsom that has risen in the ranks there. Or, perhaps the director could eliminate the "transformational library consultant/companion" he has on the payroll and who accomplishes little beyond antagonizing the actual librarians. Don't bet on that.

As for Greensboro, as long as Admin keeps getting a raise, everything will be A-OK. Who cares about the underlings?

Cobra11

May 8, 2009 - 11:15 am EDT

The county manager's recommended budget reflects the economic times we are experiencing at this time. Across our nation, states, cities, counties and school systems are having to cut their budgets including people, programs and services. I am surprised that her budget recommendations do not reflect further cuts. However, she is a very seasoned county administrator and likely the most knowledgeable person (regarding budgets and finances) in the county. I support her recommendations and hope that our county commissioners will also support the proposed budget.

spudt99

May 8, 2009 - 5:33 pm EDT

I watched a street sweeper make 2 passes yesterday in front of a small business I was visiting. The owner commented that it was a waste of tax dollars because of the lack of traffic and the recent rains. The street barely has a curb,and no cars passed while we were there for 20-30 minutes. When he called the city for an explanation, he was told it was "in the budget". Not a lot of money really, $100,000 machine, $100/ day for fuel, $30-40,000/year for the driver/operator. But how many of these situations exist that we REALLY dont need in tough times.

GCSparent

May 11, 2009 - 4:37 pm EDT

By cutting money from the schools maintenance budget we are adversely affecting our children plain and simple.

Times are tough for everyone right now but withholding funds from the school’s maintenance fund is not the answer. Rising up and asking for more accountability is.

I don't like having to pay high taxes either but in the end which is the greater cost? Are we, as a community, willing to accept lower taxes at the cost of our children? Saying that cutting the maintenance budget is ok is like saying we’re ok with sending our children to dilapidated schools that are in dire need of repair- knowing that their education will suffer. Our children deserve better than what they’re getting. They deserve to be attending schools with roofs that don’t leak, heating and air that is operational, carpet that isn’t buckled, torn or worse- moldy. There’s only so much that can be done to repair the buildings when the money isn’t there. Maintaining a home costs money why would a school-much older than your home-be any different?

Speak up Guilford County! Start calling your county commissioner! Let them know that you’re not ok with sending your child to school with buckets catching drips, mold growing in carpets, with HVAC systems that do not work because they are older than you! Please, let them know. I know I will be.