New budgets come with pay increases in Winston-Salem, Greensboro

City council members in Greensboro and Winston-Salem approved budgets this week for the upcoming fiscal year.

Greensboro’s property tax rate remains the same but Winston-Salem’s will increase by almost 4% under the approved plans.

Water and sewer rates will increase by single digits in both cities. Both cities also raised their minimum wages, Winston-Salem to $18 and Greensboro to $18.75 as cities try to boost hiring and retention in a tight labor market. Winston-Salem officials say attracting and maintaining qualified employees is the city’s top organizational challenge. The new budget allocates pay adjustments of $20 million.

Greensboro city employees will receive a four percent salary increase.

Greensboro’s budget is set at just over $800 million, while Winston-Salem’s is about $659 million. The fiscal year begins July 1.