Forsyth County's proposed budget for the coming year would raise property taxes slightly and restore longevity bonuses for county employees.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the tax increase would amount to less than half a cent for every $100 of property valuation, or an increase of about $7 on a home assessed at $150,000.

County Manager Dudley Watts said he and his budget staff worked hard to balance the budget and didn't feel like they could avoid the increase without affecting services.

Watts sketched out the basic details for county commissioners earlier this week. He tells the newspaper pretty much anything in the proposed $395 million general fund is on the table, but Watts has already identified potential reductions for commissioners to consider - including forgoing across-the-board merit raises for employees.

According to the newspaper report, the proposed budget includes $123.7 million for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, by far the largest expenditure. The county would spend $68.8 million on public safety, $51 million on social services and nearly $30 million on various health services.

Commissioners are slated to review the budget proposal in detail next week during a work session Thursday, May 24.