YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WeeKly editioN
MAY 27 - JUNE 2, 2026 Vol 48 no 22 | 1 Section | 8 Pages
ComPiled by Norma b. deNNis aNd Carol brooKs JBA AND ROTARY HOST OPEN HOUSE The Jamestown Business Association and Jamestown Rotary Club are hosting a Meet and Greet Open House at Potent Potables on June 1 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The community is invited to stop by, chat with friends and neighbors and see a variety of opportunities to shop and serve locally. New and old business owners are invited to join the civic organization to share information about themselves. For those wishing to participate, set up starts at 5 p.m. and clean up will be done by 8 p.m. Contact Angela Morrow by text at 336-580-2463 with questions or to have a space reserved. BLOOD DONATIONS ALWAYS NEEDED During Trauma Awareness Month, the Red Cross is asking for donations of blood and platelets to support the rise in needs during the summer. Donors of all blood types and those giving platelets are asked to give now to support all patients who count on transfusions for care. To schedule a donation, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give by May 31, will receive an oversized Red Cross beach towel, while supplies last. All who come to give June 1-28, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/June for details. Locations include: Jamestown June 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Guilford Technical Community College, 601 E. Main Street. June 3 from 2:30 to 7 p.m., Jamestown Presbyterian Church, 1804 Guilford College Road. High Point May 30 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary, 4145 Johnson St. June 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., State Employees Credit Union Penny Road, 3850 John Gordon Lane. see toWN, PAGe 2
Former mayor says proposed budget “is not fiscally sound” by Carol brooKs freeLAnce Writer cab1hp@gmail.com Lynn Montgomery, a CPA who retired from the Jamestown mayor’s office at the last election, has seen her share of proposed budgets in her 16 of years as a Planning Board member, town councilmember and mayor. But this is the first time she has voiced such a complaint about a proposed budget. She spoke during the public comment section of the budget public hearing at the May 19 Town Council meeting. On May 12, the Town Council had recommended changes to the suggested budget. After that meeting, Mayor Susan Dickenson said councilmembers had
Photo courtesy of Town of Jamestown
lynn montgomery “been talking with residents and staff, crunching numbers and working through different scenarios to develop a fiscal roadmap that prioritizes resource stewardship and affordability while aligning with our long-term vision.” Montgomery does not believe the “roadmap” leads anywhere positive. “The most important
job of a town council is to approve a fiscally responsible budget. I have reviewed the proposal in front of you and it is not fiscally sound,” Montgomery said before focusing on two main issues. “The first is fund balance. A healthy fund balance should be maintained for several reasons: cash flow management, unexpected expenses or economic downturns and creditworthiness. The fund balance is the citizens’ savings account. It should not be used to cover ordinary or recurring expenses,” she added. “The next item is the proposed tax rate. This tax rate does not generate sufficient income to cover the 2026-27 expenses. It uses $420,000 of the fund balance just to pay the bills. The proposed
budget uses approximately 8 percent of the available fund balance. This is not fiscally responsible, nor sustainable. “At your disposal you have an exceptional finance officer and financial software which can calculate and analyze multiple scenarios. Please use these tools to construct a budget which is both fiscally responsible and sustainable,” Montgomery concluded. Montgomery was just one of several former Town Council members and one former town manager to speak against the budget. John Capes is a former councilmember and current member of the Planning Board. He does not believe the council has read the fund balance policy. “We’re one of the few
municipalities that’s actually had a fund balance policy that we’ve adhered to religiously,” he said. “Councils that came before us were very astute about maintaining the future of Jamestown when it comes to resources, understanding what needs to be done, the simple stuff [like] trash pickup, maintaining a relationship with the sheriff’s department, the fire department, how do we take care of this population that’s going to expand, by at least 2,000 people over the next four years. We are just now at the point where we can start looking at what we need to do to improve on this. That’s the whole point of the fund balance. “You’re going to cut back see budget, PAGe 3
manager finds fault Fire damages playground, in some Council shelter at park budget changes by Carol brooKs freeLAnce Writer cab1hp@gmail.com
by Carol brooKs freeLAnce Writer cab1hp@gmail.com Town Manager Matthew Johnson presented an approximately 25-minute budget message. He pointed out some of the problems with the changes made by Council on May 12. “The revised budget reflects policy direction provided by the Town Council during the budget development process, including considerations related to the 2026 property revaluation. Operational expenditures, utility rates, staffing, and capital project timing,” he said in opening. (The following are excerpts from his budget message.) The Council’s revised budget for FY 2026/27 reflects the policy direction provided during the May 12, 2026, budget meeting
and totals $21,642,717 for all Town operations, capital improvements, transfers, and debt service. Staff remains concerned that the revised approach places increased reliance on fund balance and defined expenditures in ways that may impact the Town’s long-term goals. Staff would welcome continued discussion regarding
There was a lot on Parks & Recreation Director Scott Coakley’s mind as he gave a report about increased Jamestown Park usage at the May 19 Town Council meeting. Ironically, he had just come from the scene of a fire at one of the shelters and the new adaptive playground at the park. A lit grill tipped over, causing the fire, with black smoke billing so high it could be seen for miles. The shelter near the basketball court was damaged as were some of the sun shades at the new playground. No injuries were reported. Witnesses say the man believed to have caused the fire ran from the scene. “He even took his grill
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matthew Johnson
JES roots for the future with Campus Beautification event
Council denies immigrant resolution
by deboraH lyNCH SPeciAL to tHe neWS
The grounds of Jamestown Elementary School received a vibrant makeover on May 16 thanks to a collaborative community effort aimed at environmental stewardship and school pride. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the campus was abuzz with energy as a dedicated coalition of students, parents, teachers, and local community members rolled up their sleeves for a special culminating activity. Led by Meshell Sigmon and a team of faculty organizers, the event focused on restoring and enhancing the school’s outdoor spaces. The ambitious four-hour project included: Clearing away overgrown brush and weeds to reclaim neglected areas of the campus. Rooting new trees that will provide shade, improve air quality and serve as a living legasee Jes, PAGe 2
by Carol brooKs freeLAnce Writer cab1hp@gmail.com
Photo submitted
staff, students and community members joined together recently to spruce up the grounds at Jamestown elementary school.
Everyone likes GOOD NEWS and the Jamestown News wants to print a column focused on sharing good things seen happening in the community. To make the column work, you need to participate. email ndworddesign@gmail.com with your observations of a person or group being helpful to others. Norma dennis will print them on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
At the April 21 Town Council meeting, Jesse Lopez and James Ortiz of Triad Advocates proposed a Fourth Amendment resolution change to the immigration policy. “We are students who came here with the purpose of making change of local policy about immigration. Recently, there has been strong federal pushback regarding immigration enforcement. Some may say it is lawless. Some of it is warrantless. This has created strong risk of danger in our communities, including Jamestown. This resolution is not only for the immigrant community but also for ensuring the safety of these communities and ensuring the immigrants have their Fourth Amendment rights to deny warrantless searches and it doesn’t obstruct any federal or state investigation. This resolution can be prosee resolutioN, PAGe 3
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