Wake County residents demand full funding for schools, lower housing costs in county budget
Improving education and lowering housing costs were the top concerns that Wake County residents listed Monday in a conversation with about the budget with county commissioners.
Nineteen residents commented Monday afternoon on County Manager David Ellis’ proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
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Most of them asked commissioners to fully fund the Wake County Public School System [WCPSS]. Superintendent Robert Taylor asked the county for $702.6 million, an increase of $58.3 million over fiscal 2023-24.
Ellis’ proposed budget calls for the county to allot $693.26 million to the Wake County Public School System, not including debt service, or a shortfall of about $9.3 million compared to the school district request.
The county would also allot $40.3 million for Wake Technical Community College and $7.72 million for the Wake County Smart Start initiative in the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget includes a $49 million increase in the WCPSS general fund appropriation over the prior year’s budget.
“I’m 65 years old,” said Holly Springs resident Donna Friend. “I’ve never had a kid in school, but I will never vote down a school budget.”
“We need to fully fund the [district’s] requested increase,” said Maggie Fife, who has children in the Wake County Public School System.
School district leaders have said much of the proposed increases would go to increase pay for school employees, some of whom had been paid through pandemic funds from the federal government which are set to expire.
“Public school workers will not receive increased hourly wages if you don’t fully fund that request,” said Wake North Carolina Association of Educations President Christina Spears.” We’re starting our workers at $17.75 an hour, which is significantly less than county workers.”
Wake County school board member Lindsay Mahaffey said Wake County Public School System employees earning minimum wage will likely need to keep their second jobs.
Wake County residents express desire for lower housing costs, other budget requests
About 51 people moved to Wake County each day since April 1, 2020, according to county documentation. About 46% of those new residents are 55 and older, many of them with limited incomes.
“I’m afraid and concerned that if we don’t get very, very serious about our business here we could be looking at some of the most exacerbated housing crisis issues,” said Wake Up! Wake County executive director Denzel Burnside.
The county is proposing a $16.125 million capital improvement plan for affordable housing.
The county strategic plan calls for the county to create and preserve 2,500 affordable housing units over the next five years (2025-2029), and to create a loan fund to acquire new property where affordable, multi-family units can be built.
Luisa Scott was among the speakers who spoke on wanting library expansion.
“As our community grows, so too do the demands of the Green Road Library,” Scott said.
Wake County commissioners to hold Tuesday meeting
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners will hold another meeting where the public can speak about the proposed budget. The meeting is at the Wake County Commons Building at 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, commissioners will hold a budget work session.
Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the budget adoption at their meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 3.
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