Wake County to Seek $911 Million School Construction Bond

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — Representing both the interests of taxpayers and education, school and city officials of Wake County met last week to decide fall election voters will determine if the areas schools will receive an approximately $911 million school construction bond.

The dollar amount was settled upon $911 million after a meeting between the Wake County Board of Commissioners and the Wake County Public School System Board of Education, though the board is still two months away from finalizing the number. The bond would fund the renovation of more than seven schools and the construction of six elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools to support the growing student population in Wake County.

“You need to build schools to meet the number of students that are coming,” said County Manager David Cooke.

According to Cooke, the district is preparing for an influx of about 20,000 students over the next five years with about 3,500 to 4,000 more students attending district schools each year.

“I think the primary focus of the commissioners is to make sure there are seats for the growth in students,” Cooke said.

Other bond amounts positioned for consideration ranged from $663 million to $2.2 billion, the most highly desired amount by the school board. Cooke said the $911 million may change slightly, but it will be in the range of about $1 billion. The compromised amount would cost the average Wake County homeowner approximately $135 annually in property taxes, according to city officials.

The commissioners are very conscious of the tolerance of the community, Cooke said, and are more aware of how the public will react to their increased property taxes.

“Taxes are going up. Any of the scenarios are going to drive up the property tax rate,” Cooke said. “That’s really going to be a reaction that the public is going to make.”

The amount that will be used for renovations of existing schools and how much will be used to construct new schools is currently unknown, Cooke said, but trends in county referendums have shown that generally half the bond amount goes to new construction.

Christine Kushner, member of the Wake County Public School System Board of Education, said she’s excited about the county’s ability to bring funds to the school district and finding a compromise between updating facilities and taxpayer needs.

“I think it is mainly driven by the need and what the market can bear,” Kushner said.

Even with the recession, school populations have been growing, Kushener said, and the schools are beginning to feel pressure to find space to accommodate such a rapidly growing student population.

Kushner believes the school board will strike a compromise between school renovation and construction as well as taxpayer and property taxes.

“It’s fallen to be a good middle ground,” she said.