Forsyth County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Forsyth County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Foster Care and Adoption Promotion Funding
With 65 local children awaiting adoption and 23 not yet in adoptive placements, the county declared Adoption Awareness Month and hired a firm to recruit foster-to-adopt parents.
2022 Tasing of Elderly Resident
A resident says her 88-year-old father was tased on his own property in 2022, hospitalized, and the sheriff's office found no excessive force; she wants commissioners to review the video and personnel records.
Law enforcement bonus funding
State money will hand one-time $1,750 bonuses to 272 sworn county officers, a recruitment and retention boost.
Data Center Moratorium and Regulations
Residents keep pressing commissioners to pause data center rezonings while the county updates its UDO, but the board has declined, citing state downzoning restrictions. Commissioners are instead asking state lawmakers to return local zoning authority over data centers.
SCIF grant spending deadline at Smith Reynolds Airport
Smith Reynolds Airport is getting roof replacement, new runway paving, and an electric aircraft charging station, all paid from airport funds rather than the general fund.
Community Policing and School Resource Officer Agreements
A contractor says her emotional intelligence training contract for the sheriff's office has sat unsigned for 45 days, and she is asking whether it's retaliation for past complaints.
Ambulance franchise renewals
Five franchise extensions keep Life Star, Wake Forest Air Care, and Novant ground and air ambulance services operating in Forsyth County, covering about 10% of 911 calls plus ICU-level hospital transfers.
Law Enforcement Detention Center Population Pressures and Security
The jail is running 950-1,000 inmates against a capacity of 1,016. A GPS monitoring program at $5.90 per day — cheaper than the $5.51 the county spends on food alone — could let courts release eligible inmates while keeping track of them.
County Property Tax Authority Opposition
Commissioners and staff discussed growing legislative efforts in the General Assembly to restrict local property tax authority and freeze valuations. Officials warned that such caps could severely impair county funding for public schools, law enforcement, and vital community services.
Dedicated emergency operations center
The current EOC shares space with the sheriff's office and takes time to activate during storms. A $1 million state request would fund a dedicated, instantly ready space.
Forsyth Wins violence interruption funding
The Cure Violence program has cut crime in targeted neighborhoods since 2022, but the city pulled its funding and ARPA money is gone. The county is asking the state for $1 million to keep it running.
Smith Reynolds Airport Master Plan Development
The county approved grants and engineering contracts to update the master plan and airport layout plan for Smith Reynolds Airport, supported by over half a million in NCDOT funding.
Waste and Recycling Hauler Contract Renewals
Forsyth County is sticking with its current trash and recycling haulers by renewing their contracts for another term. If you live in the county, that means no shake-up in who picks up your garbage—at least for now. It's a continuity move, not a service redesign.
Queen Juneteenth Scholarship Accountability
Community advocates questioned Commissioner Woodbury and school officials regarding the transparency, funding, and formal agreements behind the Queen Juneteenth pageant scholarships.
Tanglewood Park Pickleball Courts Proposal
A community representative proposed developing up to 18 dedicated pickleball courts at Tanglewood Park to accommodate surging demand following the success of the Joni Mosier Park courts.
Proposed Asphalt Plant in Clemens
Seven residents told commissioners they oppose a proposed asphalt plant in Clemmons, raising it as a countywide concern even though it is not on this agenda.
Forsyth Tech Enrollment Growth and Workforce Programs
Forsyth Tech President Dr. Janet Spriggs updated commissioners on 29% enrollment growth since 2019, national cybersecurity awards, and ongoing capital funding gaps for the Learning Commons building.
Sales Tax Revenue Allocation for School Supplements
A public commenter urged the board to increase public school funding and address staffing shortages that affect student support services and safety. Speakers highlighted personal experiences with inadequate classroom staffing.
County Property Inventory and Stewardship
The county approved temporary access and pipeline easements for Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company at Triad Park after the company increased its offer to $180,000. Commissioners supporting the deal cited federal eminent domain authority and the risk of expensive litigation, while opponents raised ongoing environmental and safety concerns.
Stormwater Management and Runoff Concerns
The county must update its flood insurance rate map effective dates to June 2026 to keep residents eligible for federal flood insurance. Nine map panels along the Guilford and Stokes County lines were updated.
Animal ordinance revisions
The board updated several sections of the county code governing animals, including Sections 6-19 and 6-46 through 6-51.
Sturmer Park Circle Real Property Sale Extension
The county considered extending the purchase and sale agreement deadline for a 3.5-acre county-owned property at 5580 Sturmer Park Circle to allow the buyer more time to finalize NCDOT permits for a high-end gas station.
Schools Enrollment Trends and Capital Updates
Superintendent Don Phipps presented an update on Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, highlighting improving academic test scores, successful debt retirement, and ongoing student enrollment declines.
Forsyth Tech Learning Commons funding
Leftover 2016 bond money from finished Forsyth Tech projects was consolidated into the long-delayed Learning Commons building so construction can move forward.
Discharging Firearms Code Revision Request
A Pfafftown resident asked the county to tighten firearm discharge restrictions by increasing buffer distances from dwellings and removing written permission exceptions following a property damage incident.
Drone-delivered AED research program
The county's Duke University partnership testing drone delivery of defibrillators to cardiac 911 calls got a revised agreement — expanded to a fourth drone base but with the budget trimmed by $44,739.
Behavioral Health System Needs and Gaps
The board declared September 2026 Suicide Prevention Month, pointing residents to the 988 crisis lifeline.
Infant mortality awareness
The county's infant mortality rate (7.4 per 1,000 in 2024) exceeds the state average, with African American babies accounting for 55% of deaths; commissioners backed the 15th annual awareness walk.
Non-emergency medical transportation with WSTA
An interlocal agreement with the Winston-Salem Transit Authority will give Social Services clients rides to non-emergency medical appointments.
Planning & Development Area Plans and Housing Choice
UNC Professor Tyler Mulligan briefed commissioners on the legal limits, funding restrictions, and strategic tools available to counties for addressing affordable housing. Commissioners discussed the complexities of financing, tax foreclosures, and the statutory requirements for public referendums.
2026 Forsyth County Community Survey Results
A new citizen survey shows Forsyth County residents value local parks and libraries, but express frustrations about communication, transparency, tax administration, and emergency disaster preparedness.
Upcoming Medicaid Policy and Work Requirement Changes
Staff briefed the board on upcoming federal and state policy changes regarding Medicaid expansion and Food and Nutrition Services administrative funding. Forsyth County faces reduced federal reimbursement rates and new administrative mandates for work requirements without dedicated state funding.
Salem Chapel Road Landfill Proposal (F-1671)
Residents strongly opposed a proposed 102-acre landfill on Salem Chapel Road, expressing major concerns over narrow rural roads, heavy truck safety, and well water contamination. The Board of Commissioners ultimately voted 4-3 to deny the special use permit.
Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Procurement Consideration
Commissioner Dan Besse urged the board to consider adding a funding item up to $39,000 for purchasing COVID-19 vaccine doses for un- and underinsured Forsyth County residents ahead of the fall respiratory illness season. Commissioners discussed targeting Forsyth County residents and ensuring proper vial dosage utilization.
Clemmons Fire Department Station Consolidation & Property Actions
The Clemmons Fire Department is pivoting from a three-station model to a more cost-effective two-station strategy, acquiring land at Hampton and Idols roads and conveying surplus property on Hampton Road. Chief Steyres presented data showing response-time deficiencies under the current setup, arguing that two strategically placed modern stations will boost coverage to 94% without requiring extra county tax dollars.
State Legislative Goals and Recreational Trail Funding
The board added an amendment to its state legislative agenda urging the General Assembly to restore dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian trails through the strategic transportation investment fund.
2026 Limited Obligation Bond Financing for County Facilities
The county is using the courthouse as collateral to secure a financing contract amendment for multiple capital improvement projects. Commissioners debated whether facilities maintenance should have been prioritized over past projects like the airport and museum.
State Legislative Goals and Unfunded Mandates
The county is finalizing its state legislative priorities, focusing on property tax reform, Cure Violence, and special assistance programs, while expressing concern over how federal HR 1 changes will impact local nutrition and Medicaid services.
Capital Improvement Financing Contract Amendment
The county faces a $113 million funding gap for essential capital projects over the next six years, including critical detention center HVAC repairs and facility maintenance. Commissioners debated whether to increase property taxes by a penny to fund these urgent needs or scale back capital projects.
Land Clearing and Inert Debris (LCID) Landfill Proposal (F-1667)
A special use permit request to expand a land clearing and inert debris landfill on Watkins Ford Road brought questions regarding heavy truck traffic, environmental safeguards near local creeks, and stormwater management.
Water Main Break
A major water main burst 40 feet underground, cutting water service to about half of Forsyth County. If your taps are sputtering or dry, this is why. Crews will need to dig deep and repair it before service returns.
Social Services Meal and Day Care Program Contracts
The Department of Social Services requested renewals for contracts with Senior Services, Inc. to provide home-delivered meals, frozen meals, congregate lunches, adult day care, and adult day health services for vulnerable seniors and adult protective services clients.
Friends of the Library Operating Agreements
County staff introduced new standardized operating agreements and surplus procedures for the nine Friends of the Library groups to ensure compliance with state property and finance laws.
Community Grants Program Policy and Application Review
The county received 117 community grant applications requesting over $10 million, far exceeding the available $1.8 million in funding. Commissioners discussed standardizing evaluation rubrics and maintaining transparency while balancing community expectations.
FY 2027 County Budget Adjustments and Tax Rate Considerations
Budget staff presented a preliminary look at the fiscal year 2027 budget, noting that personal services, school funding, and debt service make up the vast majority of county spending. Officials are working to right-size department budgets and monitor potential cost shifts from federal and state policy changes.
Economic Development & Site Readiness
The county accepted a $350,000 state grant to assist Foster Caviness Company in expanding its wholesale produce distribution facility with new ripening rooms, creating 58 new jobs.
NCDOT Division 9 Transportation Projects
The county is considering a resolution asking the North Carolina Department of Transportation to process petitions for adding local subdivision roads to the state maintenance system.
Courthouse Technology and Equipment Funding
Judges presented an urgent request for $350,000 to $900,000 in courtroom technology upgrades, citing due process concerns and a lack of modern evidence presentation systems compared to other North Carolina counties. Commissioners debated the county's responsibility versus state mandates, competing capital needs like detention center HVAC repairs, and debt service implications.
Courthouse Technology Improvements
Judges requested around $900,000 for courtroom audiovisual and technology upgrades, sparking debate over state versus local responsibilities.
Piedmont Greenway Expansion and Kerner Mill Connector
Residents and commissioners voiced strong support for a $15,000 matching grant for a feasibility study on the Kerner Mill Connector. Advocates highlighted that trails boost local economies, improve public health, and expand active transportation options.