Proposed Wake budget includes tax increase
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Wake County Manager Jim Hartmann has laid out a proposed $1.13 billion proposed budget that includes a 2.9-cent property tax increase and more money for schools.
It increases school funding by 10.1 percent to a total of $376 million, with $34.6 million in new funding. This would be the largest increase that the Wake County Public School System has ever received from Wake County in a single year, but it's still roughly $13 million shy of the total WCPSS requested.
"We still have work to do," said Christine Kushner, chair of the Wake County School Board, "We've outlined our growth, innovation and workforce salaries. Those are the three big areas our budget is looking at."
"A quality education system and an educated workforce are two of our most important economic development tools," said Hartmann, "As I promised last year, I'm committed to working with Superintendent James Merrill to develop a long-term funding plan to support the school system's strategic initiatives for improving school achievement."
As far as not getting the full amount requested, Kushner said the Board the Commissioners will continue to talk about the needs of the district and the county as commissioners close in on a final vote on June 15. However, both their budgets will be affected by whatever final budget state lawmakers hammer out.
"With the House budget just released last Thursday, it makes the timing challenging. It leaves the county in the same place we were last year, not knowing if legislators will give teachers or other school system employees a raise," said Hartmann.
His recommended budget also includes an additional $2.9 million for Wake Tech. That's about an 18 percent increase over the last fiscal year.
Funding for public safety would increase by nearly $4.2 million and expand by 34 positions.
The Wake County Commission will hold public hearings and vote on the budget in June.
Click here to read Hartmann's proposal (.pdf)
