Wake County Commissioners and the Wake County Board of Education held a joint meeting on April 24, 2019 to discuss the proposed budget for the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS).
The first presentation from staff focused on the Joint Facilities Core Team that is made up of Wake County and WCPSS staff that plans and allocates funds in the capital budget. This budget spans multiple years showing how the $548 Million bond referendum passed in 2019 will pay for the Capital Improvements Program that includes the construction of new schools, renovating older schools and equipment needed to operate these schools.
Staff reported that the net student growth has slowed in Wake County, but the need for new schools continues. Many sighted reasons stemming from uneven growth in the county, policies that force capping under-enrolled schools and the over abundance of mobile classrooms.
The Superintendent’s proposed 2019-20 Operating Budget includes a $48.8 million request in new local funds where some of the proposed budget items would be applied in a phased-in approach.
Superintendent Cathy Moore stressed the mission to support every single child and highlighted the importance of state funds needed to make this happen in Wake County. The whole group then discussed legislative goals between the two boards that would be beneficial to the school system.
For many years, the WCPSS operating budget process has been difficult and caused disagreements between the two boards. The most notable part of the evening occurred when the boards started to discuss the pros of the Joint Facilities Core Team used during the capital budget process and how this year’s Operating Budget included the phasing of funds needed to address some of the budget needs that have come from many reasons like the K-3 class sizes, increases in teacher’s pay, contributions to retirement funds and huge cuts made during the recession. The conversation then flowed into the potential development of a similar core team for the operations budget.
Dr. Martin noted that “This could create a culture of understanding between the two boards.”
County Commissioners will receive comments on the proposed budget at the Budget Public Hearing – May 20th, 7:00 PM at the Wake County Commons Building. Joint meetings between the County Commissioners and the Board of Education will continue over the summer, hopefully they will continue to move forward with fruitful discussions and a long term solution to the operating budget process.