Wake Forest adopts FY 2025–26 budget; commissioner seeks nonprofit accounting

The Town of Wake Forest Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, the mayor said during the meeting.

A commissioner thanked the town financial team and said the budget maintains the town's current property tax rate at 42 cents and highlighted planned stormwater repairs in neighborhoods including Crenshaw and Cardinal Hills. The commissioner asked for more transparency on town funding for three nonprofits recommended by the town manager: the Birthplace Museum ($25,000), the Chamber of Commerce ($20,000) and the Boys & Girls Club ($10,000). The commissioner said she had already asked for accounting from the Chamber and requested similar accounting for the Birthplace Museum and the Boys & Girls Club so taxpayers can see how the funds are used.

The commissioner said she voted against the previous year's budget due to concerns about a large tax increase after property revaluations but described the current budget as providing for infrastructure and public safety needs without increasing the tax rate. The mayor called for the vote; the transcript records the motion "carries unanimously." The transcript does not include a detailed line-item budget in the meeting record provided.

The budget package as presented also incorporates use of the town's new stormwater fund for targeted repairs, the commissioner said. No additional motion or amendment to the recommended nonprofit amounts was recorded in the provided transcript.