Drop in federal funding prompts Wake schools' $58.3M proposed budget increase

Facing a loss of federal funding, Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor is proposing asking county commissioners for $58.3 million more next school year.

That would mostly fund new and existing personnel. That’s for a new elementary school opening next year, Woods Creek, and to fund employees currently federally funded but won’t be covered by federal funds next year.

The Wake County Board of Education ultimately makes the school system’s budget request to county commissioners, and they can choose Taylor’s or submit a different one. On Tuesday, board members listened to a system presentation on the budget and plan to discuss the proposal at a later meeting.

The board will have budget work sessions on April 2 and April 16 and will hold a public hearing during their April 2 meeting on the budget.

The school system’s budget, excluding building costs, is about $2.2 billion. Most of that — about $1.2 billion — comes from the state, but $644.3 million comes from the county. Taylor’s request would bump the county’s contribution up to $702.6 million.

The school board has asked for $50 million more each of the past two years, nearly all of which was granted by the Wake County commissioners. But unlike the past two years, Taylor’s request for more money won’t include locally funded raises for employees; it’s mostly focused on maintaining existing personnel and services that can no longer be federally funded. The state budget includes raises for employees next year.

Commissioners have increased the county’s budget for schools and other initiatives, raising property taxes in the process.

That the budget proposal doesn't include locally funded raises is a problem for many workers. Members of the Wake County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators asked for raises to be included during Tuesday's public comment session.

They cited their colleagues who have second and even third jobs as delivery drivers, coaches, waiters, hair stylists and pet sitters.

"We need pay increases to lessen the load on school staff," teacher Aubrey DiOrio said.

The school system, like most across the country, faces a budget shortfall from a loss of federal funds later this year. The school system used temporary federal dollars to hire mostly on one-time expenses but also spent it on more behavioral health personnel and social workers. Without additional funding next year, the school system would have to cut the workers or cut other planned expenses to afford the workers.

The school system wants the board to ask commissioners for $22.9 million to cover those behavioral health support professionals, building-level substitute teachers and snacks and supervision for children whose buses get delayed.

The school system expects to have about $50 million less in federal funding next year. Increased funding from the state will mostly go toward legislatively mandated pay raises and won’t fund new personnel.