Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 Recommended Budget

The transitions of areas like Code Enforcement and Parking Enforcement allowed a centralized oversight of key compliance and community focused efforts. Together, these reorganizations reflect a City government that is evolving to meet modern challenges—more integrated, more agile, and more responsive to the people we serve. Although new investments have been limited, we have prioritized targeted enhancements that deliver meaningful improvements to core services. This includes $3.3 million for critical staffing and programmatic support. Among them are the addition of two Victim Advocate positions in the Police Department—roles that were previously grant funded but have proven essential to supporting victims in community. The Solid Waste and Recycling Department will add four Heavy Equipment Operators over the next two years to meet growing service demand. Water Resources will gain an Engineering Supervisor to manage our increasing capital project load. In order to meet our fiscal reality, we have also made targeted reductions and operational adjustments totaling $12.3 million. These include a hiring freeze for non-critical General Fund positions, delaying the Police take-home vehicle program, deferring citywide equipment replacement, adjusting hours at Parks & Recreation and Library facilities, and many other programmatic adjustments submitted by departments across the organization. These are not easy decisions, but they reflect a disciplined approach—one that protects core services while ensuring we remain agile and resilient. Each of these actions was carefully evaluated through a lens of impact, equity, and sustainability. The hiring freeze, for example, is limited to positions that do not compromise public safety or essential operations, allowing us to manage personnel costs while preserving service capacity in high-priority areas. Postponing the take-home vehicle program for Police provides near-term savings without reducing officer presence or public safety coverage. Similarly, deferring equipment replacement citywide extends the useful life of existing assets, balancing operational needs with fiscal prudence. While not ideal, this delay helps avoid deeper cuts to programs or personnel. Adjusting hours at Parks & Recreation and Library facilities, though visible to the public, was designed to preserve access while aligning staffing and utility costs more closely with current usage patterns. Collectively, these adjustments demonstrate a proactive and strategic response to fiscal constraints. They help balance the budget without undermining our long-term goals, and they reinforce our commitment to responsible stewardship of public resources, prioritizing service continuity, maintaining workforce stability, and building the flexibility needed to respond to future challenges. Continued Commitment to Employees At the heart of this budget is our continued commitment to the people who serve Greensboro. The budget includes an increase to the minimum wage for all benefited positions by 6.7%, now starting at $41,600 annually, or $20 per hour. This is an important milestone on our path toward a $25 per hour minimum wage within five years. Also included are 4% merit increase for general employees and 4% step adjustments for positions on step plans. Fire Engineers will receive a targeted reclassification in recognition of the evolving demands of their role. We also continue to invest in the tools that support talent development and retention—bilingual pay, shift differentials, tuition assistance, and expanded leave options including bereavement and short-term disability. Ensure Public Safety Public safety remains a top priority. Our approach to community safety is comprehensive—grounded not only in emergency response but also in prevention, data, transparency, and community. We continue to support our reopened and renovated fire stations and to plan for expanded service areas. The Department of Community Safety continues to grow and innovate, providing new non-traditional responses that reduce reliance on law enforcement for behavioral health crises and other community needs. Investments in technology, especially our new Records Management System and enhanced real-time public safety tools, are equipping our teams with the information they need to act quickly and wisely. We are investing in safety beyond the badge, too. The Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program has targeted feedback directly from the community. Now we are ready to dedicate bond funding to put some of these solutions into action. Parks & Recreation will again offer more than 2,000 program opportunities next year, creating spaces where young people can grow, neighbors can connect, and community bonds are built.

Recommended FY 25-26 Budget