Wake County school board to discuss budget for 2024-2025 fiscal year

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wake County Board of Education is taking up the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year on Tuesday

Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor is asking for $702 million, a $58 million increase from last year. However, not everyone is on board with his recommendation.

He said the money will make these items possible:

• Maintain a full-time substitute teacher at each school
• Cover pay for educators with master's degrees
• Help with the opening of Woods Creek Elementary School, the district's newest school
• Maintain staffing levels for social works, counselors and school psychologists

Wake County's school board chair Chris Heagarty said members have support to increase compensation for educators, but that move will require cuts to other parts of the budget.

The board is considering the budget during Tuesday's 2:30 pm work session. Then, at 5:30 p.m., it plans to approve the Wake County Board of Education's proposed budget.

On Monday, Wake County Manager Davis Ellis presented a $2 billion budget proposal to the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

WATCH | Wake County $2B budget plan reflects rise in 'cost of doing business'

The proposed budget decreases the current property tax rate but many homeowners could still pay a lot more than in previous years.

Ellis' budget called for $1.1 billion for education split among the Wake County Public School System, Wake Tech and Smart Start, income-eligible preschool. Of that total, $693 million is slated for the Wake County Public School System.

ABC11 asked parents and grandparents whether they supported pay raises for teachers if it comes at a cost to taxpayers.

"Yes, absolutely. It's not going to come from anyplace else," said Margaret Broedel, a grandmother to a Wake County Schools child.

Kim Sheppard said she supports covering the cost too, but has reservations. She's a mom to a fifth-grader.

"I don't know where the lottery money goes and all that should be helping the schools," she said. "They should be in better shape than they are in my opinion."

School Board members met Tuesday afternoon to discuss and vote on a budget that is $63 million more than last year. That conversation will come after county commissioners reach a budget deal in June. The board will consider adopting Ellis' budget during its 5 p.m. meeting on June 3.

The school board's proposal includes a 4% supplement raise for teachers, raises for non-certified staff to $17.75 an hour and $20 an hour for bus drivers.

"That's not a lot of money. Four percent is not a lot of money for teachers. It's only a couple hundred dollars a year for teachers depending on where you are on the pay scale," Wake County NCAE President Christina Spears.

Teachers and advocates worry that they'll be pushed out as the Triangle continues to attract major tech hubs. As Wake County grows, so does its budget. Ellis said at Monday's commissioners' meeting there's a reason why it has the largest school district in the state.

"We're currently growing by 51 people per day. That makes us the third fastest-growing county of more than a million people in the country," he said.

"He said this is the new normal. Well if this is the new normal, we should pay people to live in this county and that is what we're going to continue to fight for, especially for public school workers," said Spears.