Wake County manager presents FY26 recommended budget with library bond and fire-district tax increases

County Manager Ellis presented the Wake County Board of Commissioners with a $2,165,424,000 recommended FY26 budget on May 22 and said the proposed property‑tax increases are limited to a 0.25¢ levy for a voter‑approved public library bond and a 1.5¢ increase in the fire tax district for unincorporated Wake County and Wendell.

“We brought you some information back in March strategic plan, along with keeping up with the growth that we're having, which is around, as you know, 66 people a day,” County Manager Ellis said. He told commissioners the library bond levy would generate about $7,700,000 and that the fire tax increase would raise that district rate to 12.25¢; on a $450,000 house the combined fire tax increase would add about $67.50 annually in the unincorporated area.

The manager framed the budget as the start of the board’s work, saying, “So we're at the point now where this is, once I finish once I finish with the budget, I gave it to you all so it becomes your budget.” He asked commissioners to either accept his recommended budget, consider increasing the…