Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 Recommended Budget

CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET MESSAGE

Mayor and City Council, City of Greensboro May 20, 2025 Council Members: Good evening, Mayor Vaughan, Members of Council, and residents of Greensboro.

In accordance with the General Statutes of North Carolina, and on behalf of our dedicated staff team, it is my honor and privilege to present to you my first Recommended Budget for the City of Greensboro for Fiscal Year 2025–26. This proposed budget was developed in full compliance with the North Carolina Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, and represents a fiscally responsible plan that aligns with both our values and our community’s evolving needs. The FY 2025–26 Recommended Budget totals $828.1 million, a 3.3% increase over the current year. The General Fund budget totals $441.2 million, a 4.6% increase. And I am pleased to report that this budget is balanced without any increase to the current property tax rate of 67.25 cents. Maintaining that rate in a time of rising costs and expanding needs is a reflection of careful planning, shared priorities, and a fundamental commitment to fiscal stewardship. Over my nearly 30 years in public service, I’ve learned that how we serve must evolve alongside the needs of our community. Development of this budget presented the difficult task of aligning needs and priorities with the financial backing required to deliver the high-quality services our community deserves and expects. Recent budget priorities have focused on enhancing employee compensation, making significant investments in key community projects for services and economic development, and implementing necessary program changes to advance our priorities. This proposed budget represents more than just a financial plan. It is a statement of our values, our priorities, and our shared belief in the potential of this community. While we face real challenges—cost pressures, service expectations, and revenue growth that lags behind expenses - we also find ourselves presented with powerful opportunities to invest wisely, lead responsibly, and grow inclusively. The budget is grounded in a simple but powerful principle: we are investing where it counts most —in our people, in our neighborhoods, and in the essential services that form the backbone of a thriving city. Strategic Approach Our approach is both strategic and disciplined. We have clarified our focus and sharpened our priorities. This budget concentrates resources where we can make the most meaningful, measurable difference: Public Safety, Infrastructure, and Economic Development. These are not arbitrary pillars - they reflect the intersection of Greensboro’s most urgent needs and our capacity to deliver real, lasting impact. We are moving from promises to projects, turning plans into pavement, and policy into protection. The guiding theme behind this budget - Grow It. Fix It. Protect It. - captures both the spirit and the strategy necessary to meet this moment. The development of this budget has been thoughtfully guided by the reaffirmation of your priorities during our annual strategy session in February. These priorities were further validated through valuable input gathered at our recent Budget Town Halls, held across all five council districts. As a result, this proposed budget is strategically focused on five key areas: Prioritizing Efficiency Continuing Commitment to Employees

Ensuring Public Safety Enhancing Infrastructure Promoting Economic Development

Each of these focus areas reflects the intersection of community need, organizational capacity, and the possibility for transformative outcomes. Throughout this message, I want to share how those priorities guided our choices— and how they are shaping Greensboro’s future.

Recommended FY 25-26 Budget