Wake school board approves $1.3B budget

The recommendation includes a request for nearly $327 million in county funding. If the Wake County Board of Commissioners approves the request, it would mark an increase of $8.3 million over the current year’s funding.

The proposed budget, which was introduced March 5, also includes no reduction in force and covers the cost of 3,000 additional students and one new high school in Rolesville.

The school board must submit its budget request to the county by May 15. If the county does not approve the full amount, the school board will have to adjust spending.

The same procedure will apply to the request the board will make for $787 million in state appropriations.

Before casting his vote, school board member Jim Martin said he wasn’t “terribly happy” with the budget. He highlighted an earlier vote to waive board policy and apply $28 million in fund balances toward next year rather than returning it to the county.

Martin said that decision means the board isn’t cutting enough debt.

“We need this budget. It has to pass, but I can’t say that I’m pleased and I’m not going to say that, if we get this budget, we’re getting $8.3 million additional dollars,” he said. “We’re just getting a $20 million deficit cut instead of a $28 million cut.”