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Wake schools want $107M more by 2008
by Debra A. Golden, Wake Weekly Staff Writer
Wake County commissioners recently got a glimpse of the school system's 2005-06 budget, and the numbers were somewhat surprising, County Commissioner Joe Bryan said.
Figures released in Wake County School Superintendent Bill McNeal's Plan for Student Success indicate that the school system could need as much as $107 million more from the county over the next three years. The money would be used for the school system's operating budget. The school system's capital expenses are funded separately. This past year, the county supported $100 million in debt service for school system, and about $245 million for operations. Wake's school system is growing by the thousands each year. Last year, school enrollment grew by 4,926 and enrollment for the fall is expected to grow by more than 5,000 additional students. The extra funding for the school system could amount to a 15 percent tax increase, or $300 for the average homeowner over the next three years, Bryan said. He was quick to point out that commissioners have not made any decisions about the school budget, which has not yet been formally submitted by the school board. Discussions at this point would be "very preliminary," Bryan said. "The budget is not adopted until the middle of June." In the next few months, county commissioners must look at the county's priorities including funding for libraries, mental health programs, and human services. Bryan did say that he was surprised at the magnitude of the school system's preliminary request. A countywide growth rate of 4 to 5 percent should not require a 15 percent increase in education-related expenses, he said.
Last Updated On: March 24, 2005
Copyright 2005 The Wake Weekly