NEWS: Wake County Manager Presents 2010 Recommended Budget
5/18/2009
Wake County Manager David Cooke presented the County’s 2010 recommended budget to the Board of Commissioners during their regularly scheduled meeting today, May 18, 2009, at 2 p.m., in room 700 of the Wake County Courthouse, 335 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh. The budget, which totals $953,600,000, represents a 3.1 percent reduction in expenditures from the fiscal year 2009 (FY09) budget, maintains the property tax rate at 53.4 cents and includes the elimination of 122 position, 102 of which are vacant.
"The decline in our rate of growth, home sales and new construction have had an adverse affect on the County’s revenue streams," said County Manager David Cooke. "We are committed to balancing the budget without increasing taxes, and because this is a long-term financial challenge, we determined that reductions in the budget must be sustainable."
"The 2010 recommended budget reflects a long-term perspective. Budget decisions were made taking a multitude of factors into consideration, and focusing on the areas that would have the least impact on service delivery to our citizens," said Cooke
Expenditures for fiscal year 2010 (FY10) fall into three areas: Wake County Government, Education and Debt and Capital.
Wake County Government
In order to bring expenditures in line with revenues, reductions were recommended in each department. Funding in this area will decrease 6.4 percent, from $446.0 million to $417.3 million, making this the largest funding reduction in the recommended budget. A more detailed look at reductions in this area can be viewed here. Some points include:
- 122 position eliminations, of which 20 are filled positions
- No ambulances, detention officers or Sheriff’s deputies will be affected
- Two branch libraries, Athens Drive and Duraleigh, are recommended for closure
- No pay increases for employees
Education
Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) are the County’s largest financial commitment. The County’s education spending includes Wake County Public School System, as well as Wake Technical Community College. Overall, funding for education will decrease 0.9 percent from $333.5 million to $330.5 million. Funding for Wake County Public Schools would decrease from $316.2 million in the FY09 Adopted Budget to $313.5 million, a decrease of less than 1 percent.
Debt and Capital
Capital facilities and adequate infrastructure are critical for the County’s growth. Wake County funds capital projects with a combination of cash and debt-financing. As such, funding in this area will increase 0.5 percent, from $204.8 million to $ 205.8 million. This includes:
- Revised construction schedules for Wake County Public Schools and Wake Tech Community College
- Postponement in library construction/renovation and open space acquisitions
- Moving forward with construction of Leesville Road Library, the Hammond Road Detention Center and the Continuum of Care facilities for mental health and substance abuse services
The Board of Commissioners took no formal action on the budget Monday, other than to accept it for review. Copies of the budget are available online at www.wakegov.com as well as at all County libraries.
The budget process will include public hearings and a Board of Commissioners work session prior to the Board’s consideration of the budget. The schedule is as follows:
Public Hearings
Monday, June 1, 2009, 2 p.m., Wake County Courthouse, Room 700
Monday, June 1, 2009, 7 p.m., Commons Building, Wake County Office Park
Work Session
Monday, June 8, 2009, 9 a.m. Ground Floor Conference Center, Wake County Office Building
Board Consideration and Formal Action
Monday, June 15, 2009, 2 p.m., Wake County Courthouse, Room 700
The County Manager’s full presentation to the Commissioners may be viewed by selecting the "Watch Video of Meetings" icon on the right side of the Wake County home page, www.wakegov.com. Citizens are also invited to give feedback regarding Wake County’s budget reductions by visiting Budget and the Economy.
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