Councilmember Ernest will not support FY27 budget without reconciled books; public hearing continued

At a May 27 public hearing on Ordinance 2026-0-8, which proposes the Town of Greensboro general and enterprise fund budgets for fiscal year 2027, Councilmember Ernest announced she will not support the FY27 budget until outstanding accounting questions are resolved.

"Before I can support this budget, I believe the Council and the public deserve a clear explanation of how these figures were developed and why they should be considered reliable despite the acknowledged shortcomings in the Town's financial reporting," Councilmember Ernest read, citing unreconciled accounts and the absence of finalized audits for prior fiscal years.

Ernest said council members must understand both the numbers and the process used to arrive at them to fulfill their fiduciary duties, and she cited repeated prior inquiries that, she said, remain unresolved. Her statement said community members had offered time and expertise to help address the Town's financial challenges but that those offers had often been declined.

The announcement followed public comments from residents raising related concerns about budget assumptions and transparency. The Council kept the public hearing open and scheduled continuation of the hearing to the Council's next meeting on June 4, 2026 to allow additional public input and staff responses. Residents were asked to email the Town manager with questions or evidence they believe the Council should consider before a final vote.

No formal vote on the budget was taken at the May 27 meeting. The Council adjourned following the public hearing continuation and the remaining agenda items.