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You can address the county commissioners about the proposed budget at their meeting Thursday. Some of what you need to know:

THE PROCESS

Guilford County Manager David McNeill presented his proposed budget to commissioners May 22.

Public can discuss the budget at the commissioners meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the commissioners' meeting room in the Old County Courthouse, 301 W. Market St. Speakers are allowed at the podium during the public hearing.

At least six commissioners must approve the budget for it to be adopted. They will likely do this at their meeting June 19. By state law, the budget must be balanced by June 30.

THE BUDGET

Total:$587,925,442 million

How the money would be raised (revenue):

Fees/charges/licenses: 6 percent, $37.9 million

Property tax:55 percent, $321.8 million

Sales tax:13 percent, $77.6 million

State and federal funds:17 percent, $102.5 million

Fund balance:4 percent, $26.1 million

Other revenue:4 percent, $22 million

How the money would be spent (expenditures):

Education and school debt: 42 percent, $246.5 million

Including a $12.5 million increase for Guilford County Schools and $9.7 million for construction debt .

Human services:31 percent, $180.5 million

Including $1.2 million for operating costs to open a new substance abuse facility and $170,000 for two case managers in the jails .

Public safety:15 percent, $88.1 million

Includes a full year of salaries for 28 detention officers at $1.38 million ; two new EMS workers for $120,000 ; and eight new deputies in the sheriff's office for $660,000 .

General government and support services:7 percent, $40 million

Including $610,000 for voting machines ; $200,000 for an e-mail server upgrade ; $190,000 for court telephone upgrades ; and a $510,000 increase in retiree insurance .

Nonschool debt:4 percent, $21.6 million

Community services:2 percent, $11.2 million

Includes $230,000 to open Southwest Park ; $260,000 for economic incentive contracts ; and $80,000 for Hagan-Stone Park .

How it was balanced

The voter-approved bonds in May contributed the most to McNeill's recommended property tax rate increase, which is a 5.46-cent increase per $100 valuation on property. For a $200,000 home, $69 of the additional $109 on the county tax bill would pay toward the debt created by $651.4 million in new bonds that voters approved May 6. The rest goes to the county's regular operating expenses.

CUTS AND SAVINGS

There were few budget cuts, though several requests from departments were partially or totally unfunded.

* No arts and community nonprofits were funded.

* Twenty positions lost through attrition; $1 million saved in vacancies .

* Sheriff's office request for 89 jail workers and 15 other deputies was unfunded .

* A $250,000 request for a health clinic in southeast Greensboro was not funded.

* Guilford County Schools' request for an additional $15.8 million was cut to $12.5 million .

YOUR BILLS 2008-09

The proposed tax rate is 74.6 cents per $100 of property valuation.

How to calculate your tax bill:

Value of your home divided by 100, multiplied by 0.746 = your tax payment

For example:

$100,000 house/100 = 1,000

1,000 (times) .746 = $746 tax bill

THE FULL BUDGET

www.co.guilford.nc.us/09budgetpro

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