Wake County commissioners on Monday voted to approve the county’s proposed $2.1 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Commissioners voted 6-1 on the proposed budget, which “invests in staffing and infrastructure for public safety,” as well as state mandates and the impact of growth.
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"I'm very pleased with where we landed, given the choices we had to make," said Board Chair Susan Evans.
District 6 Commissioner Shinica Thomas was the lone dissenting vote.
On Monday, Wake County commissioners amended the budget to increase funding to $40.3 million more for public schools this year compared to last year. It brings the county's budget to more than $740 million for the Wake County Public School System.
The county's initial budget proposed a $35 million increase for schools. The district had proposed the additional funding.
"It will allow us to preserve a lot of very valuable programs as well as benefits for our employees," said Wake County Board of Education Chair Chris Heagarty.
Commissioners will make up the approximate $5.3 million difference by:
– Cutting $1 million from a new affordable housing program. It cuts the number of affordable houses created by the county's affordable housing program from 2,500 to 1,250 over the next 15 years.
– Cutting 12 new EMS positions, which is expected to provide $780,000 to the Wake County Public School System.
– Raising property taxes by 0.11 cents per $100 of valuation. The raising of property taxes is expected to provide about $3.5 million for the Wake County Public School System.
"Once again, we're being asked to pit public safety and affordable housing against education," Thomas said. "That is a false and dangerous choice, and one we should refuse."
The budget includes a 0.25-cent property tax increase for a voter-approved library bond. It sets the property tax rate at 51.71 cents per $100 of valuation. For a resident living in a $450,000 home, which is roughly the median assessed value for Wake County, their property tax bill would increase by $16.20 each year.
The budget also has a 1.5-cent fire tax increase to 12.25 cents per $100 of property value for households in the unincorporated areas of the county and Wendell. The owner of a $450,000 home in these areas would pay an additional $67.50 per year.
According to the county, many of the firehouses in those areas were built in the 1970s and 1980s and no longer meet the needs for a modern, 24/7 operation. The additional property taxes would help replace 10 aging fire stations over the next 10 years, adding that it would also implement recommendations of a salary study to increase pay by 15%.
The county also said the library bond will allow Wake County to build five new libraries and expand or renovate nine other library buildings through 2032.
On Monday, some Wake County commissioners worried what will happen if proposed federal cuts to food stamps and Medicaid put even more pressure on the county
"We are at a breaking point, and cannot sustain this ," said Vice Chair Don Mial.
Commissioners also spoke Monday about their frustration for the General Assembly. Evans said state lawmakers have consistently failed to provide their fair share of support to public schools.
"If the choice is inadequate funding for schools or us finding a way to help as much as we can, we’re going to continue to find a way to help as much as we can," Evans said.