Forsyth County commissioners approve conditional forgiveness of up to $5.03 million in school district debt if private funds repay state and other creditors

FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 on Oct. 9 to conditionally forgive up to $5,026,336.90 in debt the Winston‑Salem Forsyth County Schools (WSFCS) owes the county, provided privately raised funds are used to repay the school system’s outstanding debts to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and other creditors.

The resolution, drafted by county attorneys and reviewed at the meeting, credits the county dollar‑for‑dollar for privately raised repayments first forwarded to NCDPI. The county manager is authorized to verify repayments and notify the board; any county forgiveness must be completed by Dec. 31, 2025, unless the board amends the resolution.

Why it matters: County officials said the county had covered school resource officers and school nurses during fiscal 2024–25 and was not reimbursed. County Manager Kirby Robinson told commissioners the missed reimbursement already reduced the county’s FY25 fund balance and that the action does not require an immediate tax increase.

County attorney Gordon Watkins described the county’s claim as a contractual debt…