Guilford County budget vote deepens rift over school funding

Guilford County commissioners approved an $889.2 million general fund budget and raised the property tax rate to 78.95 cents per $100 of assessed value after a state law wiped out $92.7 million in projected property-tax revenue for the coming year. The 7-2 vote at the Old County Courthouse in Greensboro put Commissioners Pat Tillman and Alan Perdue in opposition and set the budget to take effect July 1, 2026.

Guilford County Schools asked for about $313.6 million in county operating support, but the adopted budget set aside $288.1 million, a $5.6 million increase from last year that still left the district far short of what it sought. The latest plan cut the district’s request by 90% and did not cover safety measures, promised classified-staff pay increases and other legislative requirements.

The budget fight intensified after Senate Bill 889 was signed by Gov. Josh Stein on June 19, 2026. The law imposed a moratorium on Guilford County’s 2026 property tax reappraisal and forced the county to use 2025 values for the 2026-27 fiscal year, disrupting the county’s original budget plan and reducing expected revenue before commissioners ever cast a vote.

County Chair Skip Alston said the loss of anticipated revenue left local leaders unable to fix state funding gaps with county dollars alone. School Board Chair Deena Hayes warned the shortfall could lead to difficult decisions, workforce reductions, delays in technology investments and cuts to student services. Guilford County Schools Chief Financial Officer Tyler Beck said the lack of a state budget added another layer of uncertainty and described the next steps as a significant balancing act.

The adopted budget also includes $26.9 million in property-tax revenue for debt service tied to the county’s school capital bond program. Guilford County voters approved $2 billion in school bonds in 2020 and 2022, and a 2019 facilities study found more than $2 billion in school-building needs still ahead.