Few Residents Turn Out to Speak on Greensboro's Proposed $749 Million Budget
Only five people addressed the City Council at the public hearing on the recommended 2023-2024 budget, which includes a 4-cent property tax increase and higher water and sewer rates.
By Ivan Petrov ·
Public interest in Greensboro's proposed city budget appeared limited at the Tuesday, June 6 City Council meeting, where just five people spoke during the hearing on the $749 million spending plan for 2023-2024.
More speakers addressed the council during the separate comment period for items not on the agenda. Several of them said the minimum salary for city employees should rise to $20 an hour, and one called for an across-the-board 10 percent raise for city workers. Those speakers also raised points unrelated to the budget.
The city manager's recommended budget calls for a 4-cent property tax increase and an 8.5 percent increase in water and sewer rates. It also raises a number of other city fees.
Among those who spoke during the budget hearing itself, Bill McNeil said he was pleased that the council had approved a strategic energy plan but dismayed that little had been done to reach the goals it set. Councilmember Marikay Abuzuaiter responded that city departments were taking steps toward those goals, though the work might not show up in the budget.
Drew Dix asked the city to find a way to fund Triad Stage, which recently "paused" its productions. He noted that, unlike the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, which the city did support, Triad Stage relied mainly on local talent.
Jason Hicks said the minimum salary for city employees needed to be raised to $20 an hour.
Two speakers focused on the tax burden. Linda Lea said she was representing retired residents and people on fixed incomes, and argued that after the recent Guilford County tax increase, this was a poor time for the city to raise taxes. She warned that if taxes went up, "Some citizens may have to give up their homes because they can't afford it."
Shekita Hayes, a working single parent and homeowner, said another tax increase would make it very hard for her to get by. "Let me keep food on my table, because I can't get government assistance, I have to do it myself," she said.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: The Rhino Times of Greensboro
