More county funding possible for Wake school system
A Wake County commissioner says he thinks the county might be able to allocate more money this year to the local school system, despite flat funding over the past three years.
Posted — UpdatedThe Wake County Public School System's $1.25 billion spending plan, approved Tuesday night, calls for $8.8 million on top of the $314 million that the county already contributes.
The 2.8 percent increase, which amounts to about $4 per student, helps compensate for an additional 3,500 students expected to enroll in the fall, as well as to help pay for four new schools opening.
"I think we'll be able to do part of that, but I doubt we will meet the full request," Commissioner Joe Bryan said Wednesday. "We'll know more after the (county) manager's budget presentation on May 16."
The school system says its proposed budget uses about $28 million of the district's $34 million in savings to keep from having to cut jobs.
Some school board members, as well as county commissioners, believe the school system should exhaust the system's so-called "rainy day fund" before asking the county for more funding.
Commissioners are expected to adopt a final county budget next month. The school board must adopt its balanced budget no later than June 30.
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