At a time when many federal politicians are staying as far away as they can from town hall meetings, the Guilford County commissioners are perfectly happy to face their constituents and hear what those voters have to say – whether it’s good or bad.
Now that the 2025-2026 Guilford County fiscal budget process is well underway – a new budget will be adopted in June – the commissioners are holding a series of budget town halls as well as events where people can learn about available county services.
Area residents have three chances to learn about existing county programs, hear what’s going on with the process of forming the upcoming budget, and share feedback on budget priorities and other issues with the commissioners.
The commissioners say the input from the community will help shape the 2025-2026 budget that determines what does and doesn’t get funded from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
The three sessions will be held on Monday, March 31, Tuesday, April 1, and Monday, April 7, at public schools across Guilford County. In addition to providing input to the commissioners, those who attend will have the opportunity to learn about Guilford County’s available services and programs.
There’s a lot to talk about right now. The Guilford Board of Commissioners has been spending money on new buildings, new programs. The board has also been funding (and planning to fund) $2 billion in school bond repayment – and most property owners have seen their tax bills go up a lot and it looks like there will be another big increase in tax bills in fiscal 2026-2027 once a new countywide revaluation of all real property is complete.
County residents are being encouraged to submit questions ahead of the budget town halls by visiting guilfordcountync.gov/budget-town-halls.
Each session will start at 5:30 p.m. with a “community resources fair” followed by an overview of the current Guilford County budget along with community input from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Here are the dates and locations of the budget town halls and community resource fairs:
Session 1
Date: Monday, March 31
Location: Claxton Elementary School
3720 Pinetop Rd., Greensboro
Hosted by: Board Chair and District 8 Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston, Commissioner At-Large Katie “Kay” Cashion, District 5 Commissioner Carly Cooke, and District 3 Commissioner Pat Tillman
Session 2
Date: Tuesday, April 1
Location: Jamestown Elementary School
108 Potter Dr., Jamestown
Hosted by: Board Chair and District 8 Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston, Board Vice Chair and District 1 Commissioner J. Carlvena Foster, District 6 Commissioner Brandon Gray-Hill, and District 2 Commissioner Alan Perdue
Session 3
Date: Monday, April 7
Location: Simkins Elementary School
3511 E. Lee St., Greensboro
Hosted by: Board Chair and District 8 Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston, and District 7 Commissioner Frankie Jones, Jr., and District 4 Commissioner Mary Beth Murphy
Hey, you all ignoring people in the Northeast and Northwest on purpose?
So it seems.
But then, The Chairman of the Commissioners once referred to the Northwest of the county as ” lilly white”.
I guess that means we don’t matter… to him at least.
Isn’t that racism?
Maybe they consider you as among their ‘safely in our pocket’ Deborah.
3 chances to meet with Skip and company? Skip has that money spent and needing more. Based on past history, your “input” is not needed nor wanted. The best thing you can do is vote Skip and his band of theives out of office. I can’t afford their pet projects and their living on the govt dole and paybacks they pilfer from tax payers.
I believe Claxton pays homage to Northwest.
Maybe they consider you as part of the ‘safely in our pocket’ serfs’ Deborah
No, the don’t, especially from me.