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GREENSBORO – As they head into budget season, Guilford County commissioners are looking at how to do more with less – and not raise property taxes.

That was the charge at the commissioners' annual retreat in Greensboro.

As fellow commissioners and county department heads looked on, board chair Melvin "Skip" Alston said the group's mission was clear.

"We're responsible for making sure that the taxes, which are paid by our citizens, are being invested in a government that works for the benefit for all of the people in the most effective, most efficient and most responsible manner possible," said Alston.

Alston says the driving force now is the downturn in the economy, which has hit county taxpayers hard.

"They are now losing their jobs, they're closing their businesses and they've also lost a lot of money on Wall Street, so, they can't afford another possible tax increase," said Alston.

And there are new financial obligations for the county, including paying off $650 million in bonds that voters approved last May.

"The citizens, they knew that when they voted for those bonds, but at the same time, the citizens did not know that this crisis was going to affect us this early," Alston said.

Interim County Manager Brenda Fox said the county's 27 departments are looking closer than ever at how they can save money.

"You might think about it as your paycheck," said Fox. "How much money do we have coming in and what can we afford?"

Commissioner Carolyn Coleman is spearheading an effort to make county government more effective and efficient. She said that in the current economic climate, it's time for Guilford County to go green.

"Everything from turning off computers when employees have left to go home from work to perhaps changing out the chillers – which is the air conditioning and the heating systems in the buildings – to changing light fixtures," said Coleman.

The county will also offer early retirement incentives, which Alston said could save the county several million dollars.

During the retreat, commissioners approved extending Michael Newby's position as interim county attorney, while the search to fill the position on a permanent basis continues.