Blue-Ribbon Members Disagree On Ways To Fund Wake Growth

RALEIGH, N.C. — Members of a Blue Ribbon Committee appointed to study Wake County growth disagree on the best way to fund more than $18 billion in new infrastructure needs.

Each day, an estimated 60 people move to Wake County and an average of seven new houses are built. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is working to expand two of the county's largest connectors -- Interstate 540 and U.S. Highway 1/64 -- to ease congestion. And school leaders say they need to build 16 more schools in the next four years to accommodate the booming public-school population.

Some members of the committee, which is made up of business and community leaders, say new taxes are a funding solution, but about a dozen believe every option for cutting costs should be pursued before raising taxes.

The 67-page report, the product of a six-month study, acknowledges the differences of opinions among board members. But the committee's co-chair said the different perspectives reflect the value of the report.

The report will be presented next Monday to that Wake County Board of Commissioners, which will then decide how to move forward with all the recommendations.