WCPSS superintendent calling for $58 million increase in county funding for budget
The Wake County school board began budget discussions for the 2018-2019 school year as the first draft of that plan was unveiled Tuesday night.
Interim Superintendent Del Burns laid on a $1.65 billion operating budget, including a requested increase of $58.9 million in county funding, nearly $48 million of which is needed to maintain current levels of service, school officials said.
School officials said the money will go toward funding a state-mandated decrease in class sizes for kindergarten through third grade, the opening of four new schools to handle student population growth, and a shortfall in special education.
The budget also includes $11 million in improvements, a majority of which would be used to increase the number of available school counselors, social workers and psychologists and fund services for gifted students.
While the economy continues to grow, district leaders say the Wake County school system is lagging behind financially.
"It's still a little much and overwhelming to see all the numbers come together," school board chairwoman Monika Johnson-Hostler said. "Hopefully the commissioners will continue to have the conversation with us around the amount of money and the impact we are all carrying the burden from."
School leaders also have concerns about the district's fund balance, which is extra money held in case of emergencies. School leaders have used the fund to help balance the budgets in years past. Next year, it could drop to $5 million, which is the cost of operating the district for a single day.
"I believe it is a very important issue and the issue will not be fully known until emergency happens," Wake County schools chief business officer David Neter said.
Last year, the school board asked for a funding increase of around $45 million from the county. They ended up getting less than half their requested amount in the county proposal.
In recent years, the school board and county commissioners have talked about working more closely when it comes to money.
Funding for the Wake County Public School System is the biggest piece of the county budget. In 2017-18, it amounted to $21 million. The school system also gets funding from the state.
“The things we have to deal with are things we know, student growth, things we don’t know, legislative action, those surprises that have a direct impact on our budget that can’t possibly be planned for in a formula, so it will be an interesting discussion as we move forward,” school board member Bill Fletcher said.
A final version of the budget will be presented to the Wake County Board of Commissioners in May.
Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Jessica Holmes said "We will thoroughly evaluate the school system's request, keeping in mind that funding our schools is a top priority and an investment that benefits everyone in Wake County."
