Tax Increase May Be On Horizon To Pay For Wake Schools

Wake County Superintendent Bill McNeal is asking county commissioners for a $28 million increase for the upcoming school budget year to build and operate new schools.

With 7,000 more students expected to crowd hallways this fall, school leaders say they need money to hire additional teachers and buy more school buses.

Administrators said they also have to deal with a $6 million increase in utility costs and leases and a $8 million increase for salary raises, health insurance and retirement costs.

The district has already cut more than $18 million from its current budget.

County commissioners and school board members are already mulling over a bond package that could exceed $1 billion.