Proposed FY 03-04 Budget

The proposed fiscal year 2003-04 budget emphasizes education, public safety and human services programs, and for the first time in four years would raise taxes.

County Manager David Cooke presented a budget to the Board of Commissioners today that is 6.6% larger than the fiscal 2002-03 budget (the fiscal year is July 1 – June 30). Some of the highlights of the budget include:

The Board will hold public hearings on June 2 and a work session on June 9 before considering the budget for adoption on June 16.

As proposed by Cooke, the budget totals $706.4 million, a 6.6 % increase over the fiscal 2002-03 budget.  Cooke described his recommended budget as one that continues the County's long-term planning efforts while meeting the needs of growth today. Last year, Cooke presented a budget that held the line on spending and did not expand any County programs or services, but provided additional funds to the school system. The operating budget was balanced by transferring one-time revenues from the County's capital plan.

"We have tremendous demands from a public education system that grows by more than 3,000 students each year," he said. "Because of the economy, we also have more demands for public health and mental health services, for food assistance and for affordable housing, so we need to find ways to meet those needs, as well. Finally, we are continuing to deal with higher security and bioterrorism issues, as are all local governments.

"We are on sound footing now with our services and our programs. To remain on that same sound footing, we need to take actions today to prepare for tomorrow."

Highlights of the proposed fiscal 2003-04 budget include:

• For the first time in four years, a tax increase is being recommended to meet the needs of public education, law enforcement and human services. The recommended increase of 4 cents, to 60.4 cents per $100 of valuation, means the owner of a $200,000 house would pay $80 more in taxes per year.
• The County appropriation to schools is recommended at $223.7 million, an increase of $20.7 million from the current year appropriation.
• The capital program will keep large projects on schedule and calls for a referendum this fall for schools and libraries.
• An additional 110.7 employees, with the bulk of those – 68 -- going to the Sheriff's Office to staff the new Hammond Road Detention Center, along with two new investigators for the Sheriff's Office.  Staff in Human Services would be added to bolster early childhood programs in the public schools but also to focus on communicable diseases and bioterrorism preparedness. Additional staff is recommended for the first time since 1992 in the General Services Administration, which maintains County buildings, grounds and fleet services.
• Continued focus on growth and long-range planning by implementing growth and environmental initiatives such as the Watershed Management Plan, Growth Management Plan and Comprehensive Open Space Plan.
• No additional funding over current levels is recommended for Wake Technical Community College or for community agencies such as the United Arts Council, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Exploris, North Carolina Symphony and the Healing Place.
• No change is recommended in the Fire Tax District tax rate or solid waste tipping fee or household fee.

The Board of Commissioners did not act on the budget today, other than to accept it for review. For more information on the budget, click here or contact Cooke at 856-6160 or Budget and Management Services Director Raymond Boutwell at 856-5483.