By Anna Roman
The Herald-Sun
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — Wake County leaders raised the property tax rate and cut its proposed housing and EMS funding to increase its spending for the Wake County Public School System.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the $2.17 billion budget 6-1 Monday evening after a lengthy discussion about the merits of cutting proposed housing and EMS funds to increase public school funding.
“You can’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm,” said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas, the lone commissioner who voted against the budget. “That’s not partnership. That’s a neglect of your own responsibility. Once again, we’re being asked to pit public safety and affordable housing against public education. That is a false and dangerous choice, and one we should refuse.”
Earlier this spring, Wake County Manager David Ellis had proposed a budget with a property tax rate of 51.6 cents per $100 of assessed property value. That would have been an increase of 0.25-cents per $100 valuation in the property tax rate to cover the cost of the $142 million library bond that voters approved last fall. The bond will pay for five new libraries and renovate or expand nine other library buildings over the next decade. It proposal also included a $35 million increase for the Wake County Public School System.
But Monday, county leaders instead approved a budget that brings school funding to $40.3 million, the amount requested by the Wake County Board of Education. WCPSS administration identified $60 million in additional needs this year and made $18.7 million in budget cuts, The News & Observer previously reported.
The county tax rate also will increase from Ellis’ initial proposal to 51.71 cents per $100 valuation. That’s an increase of 0.11 cents per $100 valuation over what the county manager proposed for a total increase of 0.36-cents per $100 valuation. The owner of a $450,000 home would pay $2,326.95 in county taxes, an increase of $16.20.
“I had to do a lot of soul searching for what are my core values and what I think is the best for the constituents of District 7 that I represent,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. “Cutting housing and EMS is painful. ... I would not be sitting here in this seat today had it not been for strong public education.”
The 0.11-cent increase over what Ellis’ initial proposal will raise $3.5 million for WCPSS.
Budget cuts
Commissioners made additional cuts in the budget to redirect spending to public schools.
The proposed budget had included 15 new paramedics and 10 emergency medical technicians to Wake County EMS. The budget approved by Wake leaders cut 12 of those positions to direct $780,000 to WCPSS.
“When we asked the staff about areas that we could possibly cut in the budget, they came back to us and said, ‘We’ve realized, in reality, we probably wouldn’t actually be able to hire that many people and get them trained in the next year,’” said Wake County Commissioner Chair Susan Evans. “So we could hold off on 12 of those positions, knowing full well that we’ll need to fund those the following year. But they were being very realistic about that.”
Commissioners also voted to lower the amount for its Housing Opportunity Fund by $1 million over the next five years. The fund is meant to be a public-private revolving loan fund to buy affordable housing in “more affluent urban areas” where land costs are higher.
“This reduction will decrease the projected number of affordable units created from 2,500 to 1,250 over the 15-year life of the fund,” according to Wake County.
Commissioner Safiyah Jackson called on “the business community of Wake County to fill that gap and help us ensure that we can acquire land.”
Many of the commissioners placed blame on the North Carolina General Assembly for not fully funding public schools.
“Public schools are under unprecedented attacks,” said Wake County Commissioner Tara Waters. “Ideologically, politically and financially, and there is a disparate impact that these attacks have on students of color and students from low-income families. And, for me, it’s about ensuring that no matter your ZIP code, every child has the opportunity for a real chance at success and education remains the most powerful tool that we have to break the cycles of generational poverty, and yet we continue to underinvest as a society in our communities where that power is needed the most.”
The budget includes pay raises from 1% to 3.5% for the county’s 5,000 employees, the lowest pay increase since the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also includes a property tax rate increase of 1.5 cents per $100 valuation for the Fire Tax District, which includes unincorporated Wake County and Wendell. That money will go toward aging fire stations and pay increases for firefighters.
More information about the budget can be found online at wake.gov/budget.
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