Winston-Salem City Council

Politics & Government

Winston-Salem City Council approves tax hike, delays vote on firefighter benefits

2:46pm June 17, 2025

On Monday, the council voted to approve next year's budget, which includes a tax increase. And, members tabled a decision on changes to firefighter benefits amid pushback. Catch up on what happened at this week's meeting.

Politics & Government

Winston-Salem advocates speak out against proposal to reduce funding for housing program

12:01pm June 03, 2025

by April Laissle

The city’s current budget proposal includes a 45% funding cut for a homelessness prevention program. Advocates say "fewer dollars mean fewer people housed."

Derwin Montgomery, seen here in 2018 at the Forsyth Democratic headquarters in Winston-Salem

Crime

Former Winston-Salem City Council Member Derwin Montgomery arrested for probation violation

12:08pm May 30, 2025

by April Laissle

Montgomery has been arrested for failing to make restitution payments to the Bethesda Center for the Homeless. He was convicted of stealing from the organization in 2023.

Politics & Government

$92M of federal funding at risk, Winston-Salem city manager says

1:54pm March 20, 2025

by April Laissle

Officials are estimating about 14% of the city’s budget is at risk, given the Trump Administration's recent cuts. City Manager Pat Pate says congressional representatives didn't provide any assurances during a recent meeting.

Firetruck parked outside Winston-Salem City Hall

Politics & Government

Winston-Salem firefighters voice concerns over changes to overtime policies

3:16pm March 18, 2025

In February, the city lowered the minimum number of firefighters on duty each day from 89 to 79. The decision, which was aimed at preventing the fire department from exceeding its overtime budget, has drawn criticism from Winston-Salem's firefighter union.

Politics & Government

Winston-Salem City Council brainstorms ways to address food insecurity

3:10pm January 22, 2025

by April Laissle

Food deserts, or low-income areas where grocery stores are more than a mile away, exist in all but one of Winston-Salem’s wards. The city’s Hispanic community is particularly impacted – Second Harvest Food Bank served more Latinos last year than any other demographic.

Bus picks up passengers in Winston-Salem

Transportation

Winston-Salem to cut 3 bus routes due to low ridership

12:40pm January 08, 2025

by April Laissle

At a City Council meeting Monday, officials voted to get rid of routes 99, 100, and 110. Each had less than three boardings per hour.

Politics & Government

Swearing-in ceremony held for Winston-Salem City Council members

4:08pm December 03, 2024

by April Laissle

The ceremony came amid a public conflict between a departing member of Council and an incumbent.

Housing

Winston-Salem City Council to consider new affordable housing development program

3:56pm November 15, 2024

by DJ Simmons

The proposed program would include an application window and evaluation criteria on a development's quality, project team and financial feasibility.

Artistic rendering of a greenway entrance to the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery

Race

Winston-Salem City Council approves land for the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery

2:06pm June 18, 2024

by David Ford

The Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery will sit upon the same land in Winston-Salem that the 18th and 19th century formerly enslaved man once homesteaded and farmed.