Budget Workshop - May 28, 2026

The Forsyth County Government held a budget workshop on May 28, 2026, focusing primarily on fiscal projections, school funding, community grants, and capital improvement projects. Discussions highlighted a forecasted year-end deficit due to large expenditures such as school funding and payrolls. A significant topic was the school district's proposal to withhold $3.5 million in lottery funds designated for debt service or construction, which county officials noted would violate state requirements and necessitate using fund balance to cover shortfalls. The board considered setting aside this amount in the budget pending resolution. Community grant allocations were debated, with some proposed reductions and removals of certain organizations from funding, while maintaining overall budget caps. The workshop also addressed courthouse technology upgrades, with concerns about the county assuming state responsibilities and the need to integrate these costs into the capital improvement plan. Multiple budget options were presented, including varying tax rate adjustments to accommodate school funding requests and other county priorities. The meeting concluded with plans to finalize budget decisions in the upcoming week, including potential presentations from judges regarding courthouse technology needs.