Wake County public schools will get more money from local funding, and many homeowners can expect higher property tax bills after this year’s property revaluation.
Wake County leaders are increasing the property tax rate in the county manager’s recommended budget to provide $58.3 million in additional local funding to the Wake County Public School System.
But that falls short of the $63.2 million in additional funding that school leaders said they needed.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the budget Monday evening. Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson was excused and absent from the meeting.
This budget debate “felt more rigorous” than previous debates in recent years, said Wake County Vice Chair Susan Evans.
Quick Budget Facts
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The $2.1 billion budget is a 10.7% increase over this year’s budget.
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The approved property tax rate is 51.35 cents per $100 of assessed property value, or 0.3 cents above the county manager’s proposal. That’s higher than the rate Wake County would have had to set at 46.36 cents per $100 to maintain the same level of revenue.
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The current rate is 65.7 cents per $100.
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The new budget takes effect on July 1.
WCPSS funding
The Wake County Public School System will receive $58.3 million in local funding, or a 9% increase over the current budget.
The school board’s request would fund a 4% increase, establish a minimum wage of $17.75 per hour for “non-certified staff” and a minimum wage of $20 per hour for bus drivers.
Several WCPSS teachers and staff gathered during the public hearings on the county’s budget and called on elected leaders to fully fund the school board’s request.
School employees should be paid “livable, comparable wages” to those of county employees, said Christina Spears, president of the Wake chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators.
Many blamed the North Carolina General Assembly for not providing enough funding to local schools, but asked local leaders to make up the difference.
“We understand that the state has failed to meet its constitutional obligation to fully fund the public education system, choosing instead to invest in private school vouchers with little to no income limit or oversight, and in charter schools with limited oversight,” said Wake PTA Board President Teresa Jones. “But the Wake County Commission is uniquely positioned to ensure that all children within its borders do not suffer because of the Legislature’s failure to invest in them.”
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
