Wake school system's financial future uncertain

Raleigh, N.C. — The sagging economy has left Wake County school board members and county commissioners with a complicated budget equation that equals big question marks for the future of the county and its students.

At a joint meeting Tuesday, members of both boards saw how much the economy has thrown off predictions for spending and how much money the school system still owes on other projects and bonds.

"Everybody is having to respond differently to the current economics," Wake County Manager David Cooke said. "It's no different for the county or the school system. We don't have the revenues we've had in the past, and it requires us to change things."

School board members say the economy has thrown off projections for school population growth dramatically because those predictions were forecast during a good economy.

Superintendent Del Burns said the school system no longer expects school enrollment to increase as fast, especially at the elementary level.

"Usually, we anticipate more growth in a good economy, less in a bad economy," Burns said.

School board chairwoman Rosa Gill said the school system might not recover for the next three years.

Cooke said projections for the county are also off.

"We estimated sales tax and property taxes would continue to increase, and now that’s not true," he said. "If we adjust for those predicted drops, the cumulative 10-year effect will be a loss of $182 million. We won’t be able to move ahead on all projects"

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Latest Comments

off topic, but did anyone catch the interview with Rosa Gill last week? She said her grandson is turning 5 in Aug and will be starting K in Aug. Uh, doesn't he have to be 5 before 8-1-09?

kmb0694
February 19, 2009 1:02 p.m.

oh, but the education lottery is going to solve all.

yeah, right...what a buncha crooks.

missparrothead
February 19, 2009 12:42 p.m.

With all the wasting and scandals that have gone on, why is this surprising? They are trustees with our money, and they blew it. They SHOULD all be fired. Start over!

dlb800
February 19, 2009 12:17 p.m.

Eliminate Wake County Schools altogether and then eliminate property tax. People can use the money they save on property tax to send their children to private schools.

The government should not be in the business of schooling children. The government's function should be restricted to protecting fundamental rights as stated in the constitution and to enforcing contracts.

dcatz
February 19, 2009 9:52 a.m.

This is not only wasted money on bussing...it is also wasted money in Adminsitration. A few posts ago someone asked why they aren't making the "hard cuts". Because if they did they would see how bloated they really have become and how much money could really be saved! They add Senior Adminsitrator positions and higher like they actually need them when in fact they don't. PLEASE!!! Look at the Job Description of the Finance Manager and then look at the Chief Business Officer...tell me where the difference is....or maybe look at all the Directors in Maintenance and Operations...or look at the Sr. Admin. and higher in Human Resources and see where they REALLY should be paid...

Tough choices aren't so tough when you don't have the funding and you aer trying to make sure the people in Wake County will support you. Let us see some REAL changes and MAYBE we'll have more trust in you WCPSS!