Breaking down Wake County’s proposed $1.8 billion budget

Wake County’s recommended budget for the 2024 fiscal year has been adopted.

The facade of the Wake County Justice Center.

The board will hold its first work session about the budget on Monday, May 8 at the Wake County Justice Center.

Photo via The City of Raleigh

Note: Wake County Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday, June 5 to adopt a $1.8 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

Wake County Manager David Ellis recently presented his recommended Wake County budget for the 2024 fiscal year — which starts July 1, 2023 and runs through June 30, 2024 — to the board of commissioners.

Ellis’ $1.8 billion budget focuses on making notable investments in programs like public safety, affordable housing, child welfare, behavioral health, and education.

The majority of the budget — more than $1 billion, or 57% — will be invested in education, including an overall operating investments of more than $644.2 million for WCPSS and approx. $33.5 million for Wake Tech.

There will be a total property tax increase of 3.75 cents. The property tax rate would bump up to 65.7 cents per every $100 of property value. Read: If you own a median-valued home of $300,000, you would pay $112 more in the 2024 fiscal year.

Note: These opportunities are now closed. There are several opportunities to communicate your thoughts on the proposal before the board considers adopting the budget at the meeting on June 5. Fill out the online survey, now through Friday, May 19 at 5 p.m., or attend the next public hearing at Wake Tech RTP on Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. — there will be three more meetings to follow.