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Wake County manager presents $2.17 billion FY2026 recommended budget, schedules public hearings
Summary
County Manager David Ellis presented a $2.165 billion recommended FY2026 budget emphasizing public safety, education, homelessness and libraries; the board received the recommendation and set two public hearings and work sessions.
Wake County Manager David Ellis presented his recommended fiscal year 2026 budget of $2,165,424,000 to the Wake County Board of Commissioners on May 5, outlining investments in public safety, education, homelessness services, libraries and early childhood education.
Ellis said the proposed budget reflects population growth — Wake County now exceeds 1.2 million residents — and economic pressures including inflation and higher construction costs. The recommended package uses natural revenue growth to fund most priorities; Ellis proposed two voter-approved tax changes: a 0.25-cent increase to cover a $142 million library bond and a $0.0125 increase to the fire tax in the fire district to meet a recommended market adjustment for fire departments.
Key proposal elements include: - $15 new paramedic positions and 10 new EMT positions for Wake County EMS; - A $737.6 million operating investment for Wake County Public School System (an increase of $35 million over FY25) plus $412 million for capital projects in the CIP; - $8.2 million for Smart Start early-childhood programs (an increase of $456,000 over FY25); - Nine new positions for the Continuum of Care to address unsheltered homelessness, after the county’s point-in-time count found a rise in unsheltered individuals; and - Funding for six additional positions in the Board of Elections to meet requirements under Senate Bill 382.
Ellis said the budget maintains a cautious posture given federal and state funding uncertainty and noted the county’s revenue composition: property taxes make up roughly 75% of the budget, sales tax about 14% and fees about 4%.
The board voted to receive the recommended budget and to schedule public hearings and work sessions. The board’s approved schedule includes two public hearings: May 19 at 2 p.m. at the Wake County Justice Center and May 20 at 7 p.m. at the Wake County Commons Building, with online comment accepted through May 21. The board will consider adoption during its June 2 regular meeting at 5 p.m.
Why it matters: The recommended budget proposes significant new investments in education, public safety and homelessness services while limiting the general property-tax increase to those tied to voter-approved initiatives and a requested fire-tax change for the unincorporated fire district. Commissioners and the public will have further opportunity to weigh in at the scheduled hearings and work sessions.
County Manager Ellis said detailed budget documents are available at wake.gov/budget and invited public comment through the posted process.
No final budget adoption occurred at the May 5 meeting; the board received the recommendation and approved dates to hear public comment and consider adoption.
