Wake County’s $2 billion budget confronts ‘economic uncertainty,’ manager says
Wake County residents could see a slight property tax increase as county leaders prepare for an unpredictable economy.
“To balance the budget, I took a more constrained approach to ensure fiscal stability, based on long-term planning and projections,” County Manager David Ellis said. “I believe it’s the responsible tack to take during this period of economic uncertainty.”
The Wake County Board of Commissioners got its first look at the proposed $2.17 billion budget Monday night.
It includes a 0.25-cent per $100 valuation increase 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 expand or renovate nine other library buildings over the next seven years.
The proposed county tax rate is 51.6 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The owner of a $450,000 home would pay $2,322 in county tax, an $11.25 increase.
Proposed pay increases for Wake County’s more than 5,000 employees range from 1% to 3.5%, the smallest pay increases since the pandemic.
“I wish I could do more, but we can’t afford to this year,” Ellis said.
Federal and state funding
Wake County receives about $100 million a year from the state and federal governments.
“In this evolving political climate, it’s challenging to know how stable these funding sources are — now and in the future,” Ellis said.
Federal cuts will mean more Wake County residents will need help finding affordable housing, paying utility bills and putting food on the table, he said.
“What we do know is the reductions that have already hit the Triangle are triggering hiring freezes at local universities and the Wake County Public School System, as well as layoffs at nonprofits, biopharmaceutical companies and research institutes.,” Ellis said.
Steel and lumber costs have risen significantly, and it costs twice as much to build a new EMS station as it did six years ago, he said.
WCPSS funding
The proposed budget includes a $35 million increase for the school system for a total of $737.6 million.
In March, WCPSS Superintendent Robert Taylor unveiled his budget with a request for a $40.3 million increase in local funding. It included $18.7 million in cuts, including in instructional supplies, teaching positions and employee benefits, The News & Observer reported.
The Wake County Board of Education will vote on its proposed budget Tuesday. The Wake County chapter of the N.C. Association of Educators is organizing “walk-in” rallies at a dozen schools and before the school board meeting to adopt a “no-cuts” budget.
“Wake County Schools are understaffed, educators underpaid, and our facilities under resourced,” Wake NCAE President Christina Cole said in a news release.
“We know our schools need $60 million next year,” she said. “Considering anything less is disrespectful to our students and the educators working tirelessly to help them succeed. An investment in our schools is an investment in our county and in our state.”
The proposed budget provides a $1.8 million increase for Wake Technical Community College.
Wake County public safety
Residents in the unincorporated parts of Wake County and the town of Wendell could also see an increase in the fire tax district rate.
Ellis is proposing raising the rate by 1.5 cents to 12.25 cents per $100 of property value to replace fire stations, increase salaries and cover the cost of inflation. The owner of a $450,000 home would pay an additional $67.50.
Public safety items in the proposed budget:
- Adding 15 paramedics and 10 EMTs
- Adding two legal assistants to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and a social worker to the Wake County Public Defender’s office.
- Adding to the sheriff’s office bulletproof vests so deputies “will have personalized safety gear that they can wear in a more comfortable and sustainable way,” Ellis said.
Wake County budget vote
Two public hearings are set for May 19 and May 20.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners, who did not comment on Ellis’ proposed budget at Monday’s meeting, is set to vote on the budget June 2.
The full budget can be viewed online at wake.gov/budget
This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Wake County’s $2 billion budget confronts ‘economic uncertainty,’ manager says."
