Greenville council presents proposed $194 million budget, discusses ICE policy proposal

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The city of Greenville presented a $194 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-2027 on Monday, a $17 million increase from its previous fiscal year budget.

Nearly 50 percent of its general fund dollars at $124 million will go toward funding public safety, including for police, and fire/rescue.

The budget proposal aims to provide $250,000 in funding towards pedestrian safety projects across the city, $750,000 for 12 additional fire/rescue roles, and $300,000 in funding medical supply inventory for EMS.

Other funds will be allocated to sanitation, fleet maintenance and transit services.

City Manager Michael Cowin said the budget continues to invest in the city’s growth.

“This budget continues to invest in moving the city forward, we have approximately 5 million dollars worth of new revenue and so we’re continuing to see growth within our community,” he said. “But also, we invest with this budget over 83 percent into our employees cause they’re our number one asset.”

The city’s tax rate will remain the same.

“Our tax rate will remain at 39.54 cents, which in order to be able to provide all these additional services that’s very valuable for us to say and very important that we can say that we’re doing it by not increasing the tax rate, but keeping that stable,” Cowin said.

The city will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget Monday, June 8 at 6 p.m.

During the meeting, city staff also presented an analysis of whether Greenville could adopt a Philadelphia-style policy on ICE interactions under state law, described as barring ICE from using city-owned property as locations for raids and other actions.

City Councilwoman Portia Willis requested the analysis after residents reached out concerned about ICE.

“I do think it’s important for us to take a moral stand and let citizens know how we feel about these issues and I think it goes into the fabric of our city and how we want our county to feel,” Willis said. “I just wanted to make it clear that I think that there is a way for us to be able to uphold the laws of our federal government and still preserve dignity and respect for ourselves and for those who call America home.”

Councilman Les Robinson weighed in on the presentation.

“I think it’s important for us as the city council to become knowledgeable on what the facts are versus what somebody comes up here and says,” he said. “Ice is not targeting- they target people that are violent, typically.”

Councilman Matthew Scully also weighed in.

“There is a legitimate amount of fear and anxiety in our community. Citizens have died in our country because of the unprofessional actions of some officers in ICE, not condemning the whole organization, but there is some legitimate fear and anxiety throughout our nation and community that should be addressed through education like this to inform our citizens what their rights are.”

Staff says that due to NC state law, adopting such a policy would not be possible.

Willis said she hopes for future action the city can take in making sure its residents feel safe and protected.