Wake’s proposed budget lowers tax rate, but that may not mean a tax break
Wake County Manager David Ellis is recommending a budget of more than $2 billion to fund Wake County operations this coming fiscal year.
His draft spending plan recommends lowering the county’s property tax rate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a tax break for Wake County residents.
“With our top-notch educational opportunities, access to high-quality health care, strong local economy, and excellent quality of life, it’s no surprise that Wake County remains a highly desirable place where people want to move,” Ellis said. “We’re currently growing by 51 people per day. That makes us the third fastest-growing county of more than 1 million people in the country.”
Wake County leaders got their first look at the county manager’s proposed $2.1 billion budget Monday evening.
The proposed budget is a 10.7% increase over the current year’s budget.
“Overall it takes into account the county’s needs, our statutory responsibility and also what the community is saying,” said Wake County Commissioner Chair Shinica Thomas. “And we look forward to hearing what the community has to say about the recommendations the manager made.”
How much could property taxes go up?
Wake County recently completed its 2024 revaluation process, meaning every property owner received a new assessment.
The property tax rate that Wake County would need to set to maintain the same level of revenue, called revenue-neutral, would be 46.36 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
Instead, the county manager is recommending the property tax rate be set to 51.05 cents per $100.
The current rate is 65.7 cents per $100.
A resident who owns a home valued at $462,000 would receive a county tax bill of $2,358 this year, under Ellis’ plan.
But whether that amount is higher or lower than last year depends on how their property compares to the revenue-neutral rate.
For example, if you owned a home in Wake County that was valued at $306,500 in 2020, and compared the current tax rate to the proposed tax rate, this is how the tax bill would change:
if the home went up 25% in value, the homeowner would see a decrease of $58 on their county tax bill under the manager’s proposed budget.
if the home went up 50% in value, they would see an increase of $333 on their tax bill.
and if the home went up 75% in value, they would see an increase of $724 on their tax bill.
How much is WCPSS getting?
Ellis is proposing increasing local Wake County Public School System funding by $49 million, or 8%. That would bring the county’s total contribution to $693 million.
Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor requested $58.3 million in additional local funding in his proposed budget, but it was met with criticism that it didn’t do enough to raise pay for employees, The News & Observer previously reported.
The Wake County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on its proposed budget on Tuesday, and it has tentatively said it would ask for a $63.2 million increase in local funding. The commissioners and school board members will meet virtually on Thursday.
Wake Technical Community College would get a $3.4 million increase under the manager’s proposed budget, bringing its local total to $40.9 million.
The proposed budget includes $2.5 million for the county’s Smart Start preschool program, bringing the total investment to $7.7 million.
Public safety spending
Emergency Medical Services: Wake County saw a 10% increase in the number of calls for EMS in the last two years. The proposed budget includes adding 10 new ambulances, bringing the total to 61 ambulances in Wake County’s fleet.
Fire: While municipalities provide fire services for residents within their boundaries, Wake County has a fire tax district that covers the cost of fire services in the unincorporated parts of the county and the town of Wendell. The proposed budget includes new fire stations and increasing the number of crew members from three to four on trucks.
Sheriff: The proposed budget includes adding a recruiter to focus on hiring detention officers. It also includes funding to staff three new courtrooms, which is required by state law, and adding new law enforcement officers to patrol and the Emergency Response Center.
Are Wake County employees getting raises?
The budget includes a “small market rate” pay increase, and “successful contributors” could see a merit pay increase of 3%. That could be bumped up another 1.5% for “outstanding performance.”
Wake County’s employee vacancy rate is down from 14% to 10%.
The new living wage for Wake County is $21.78 per hour or $45,302 a year.
Foster care, animals and parks
Affordable housing: This proposed budget would add $4.5 million to the county’s affordable housing efforts to bring the total to $32.5 million. That would continue pilot programs started during the COVID-19 pandemic to help people find housing and to prevent becoming homeless.
Animal Shelter: The Wake County Animal Center has seen a significant influx of animals brought into the shelter with the county trying new methods to address the number of strays. This proposed budget includes adding staff to handle intake and another foster care coordinator to grow the number of volunteers to 400.
Foster Care: The proposed budget adds seven new positions to the county’s Child Welfare Program to recruit more foster families and help place children in stable, permanent homes. There are 404 foster kids in Wake County and less than 100 homes currently taking in children.
Libraries: The bookmobile would be replaced under this proposed budget, and more digital books would be added to the county’s collection.
Parks: The proposed budget includes funding the opening of the county’s first new park in 14 years. Beech Bluff County Park will open later this year, including 300 acres of green space, playgrounds and classes offered in agricultural buildings. A second county park, Kellam-Wyatt County Park, will open in summer 2025.
What happens next?
People can read the nearly 400-page budget and provide online feedback by visiting wake.gov/budget.
May 13: Wake County Commissioners will meet for a work session on the proposed budget
May 20: Wake County will hold a budget public hearing
May 21: Wake County will hold a budget public hearing
May 22: Last day to submit comments on the budget
May 23: Wake County Commissioners will meet for a second budget work session
June 3: Wake County Commissioners will vote on the proposed budget
