Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Stream test for June 1.

Good afternoon, everyone. I've now called a meeting to order. First, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and then we'll have the invocation by Commissioner Cheryl Starlin. So please stand.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and

So I invite you to remain standing and pray with me or have a moment of personal reflection or meditation. Creator God of many names, we give thanks for this day and for this opportunity to gather together to make decisions on behalf of our community. We give thanks for our residents, our community partners, our county staff and employees, and our commissioners. We also give thanks for the recent Memorial Day as we paused and remembered all who have died serving our country. May we be forever grateful to those who have sacrificed so much for us as Americans. In our meeting today, please grant us wisdom and guidance as we work in service for the people of Wake County. Amen.

Okay, then we will go ahead and get started here. We begin today's meeting with the items of business and the first item of the business is approval of the agenda. May I have a motion to approve?

Motion approved.

We have a motion to approve by Commissioner Stallings. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Commissioner Waters. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All in opposition say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries. Next thing is approval of the minutes of our regular meeting of April the 20th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve those minutes?

I move to approve the minutes of the regular meeting April 20th, 2026.

We have a motion by Commissioner Thomas. Is there a second?

Second.

We have a second by Commissioner Waters. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those that disagree or oppose, please say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries. And then we will have, on item three, we will have a prior month proclamation being read by Commissioner Vicki Adamson and accepted by Equality North Carolina.

Good evening, everyone. I would like to present this proclamation for your consideration. Wake County Board of Commissioners Proclamation recognizing June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, whereas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender LGBT Plus Pride Month is celebrated nationwide in June each year, whereas this month was chosen to commemorate the riots that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York, on the morning of June 28, 1969, often viewed as the birth of the modern LGBTQ Plus rights movement. And whereas it is important to remember those affected by the riots and to reflect on the LGBT plus movement. And whereas despite great progress, LGBT plus Americans still face discrimination simply for who they are. And whereas the County of Wake stands with the LGBT plus American community in the struggle to ensure equal treatment for all. And whereas the County of Wake will continue to defend and advocate for the LGBT plus rights as human rights. Whereas Executive Order Number 24, North Carolina 958-962, which was issued on October 18th, 2017, establishes policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity expression in state employment, state services, and state contracts under the jurisdiction of the Office of Governor. And whereas Executive Order Number 24 directed the Secretary of the Department of Administration to create the Commission on inclusion to identify additional policies and measures that promote diversity and inclusion. And whereas the County of Wake strives to make our community a place where all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression are treated equally. Now, therefore, it be resolved that the Wake County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim the month of June 2026 as LGBT plus Pride Month and commend its observance to all our citizens. Adopted this first day of 2026, signed by our chair, Don Mile. So moved.

We have a motion by Commissioner Adamson. Is there a second?

I second it.

We have a second by Commissioner Stallings. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the ayes have it. Motion carries.

Thank you. And I'd like to... I'd like to, Equality NC is here with us tonight.

Thank you. I'll introduce myself first and then, of course, say thank you. I'm Laura Myers, she, her. I'm the Deputy Director at Equality NC. Here, instead of Eleazar Posada Orozco, our executive director who really wishes he could be here, I want to start by saying, of course, thank you for this proclamation and the ongoing recognition of the importance of the LGBT community in Wake County. Equality North Carolina is the oldest LGBTQ organization in the country. That's an advocacy org for the community. Started in 1979 as a legal fund for trans and queer folks in our area, and now we work across the state. We're proud to work with local leaders like yourselves to create protections for the queer community and to educate and mobilize voters to ensure we have elected representation that the community deserves. Proclamations like this go beyond a piece of paper with a seal. This is a statement to our community that they belong. In a time where queer and trans individuals are targeted at all levels of government all over the country, we need local leaders to stand up and show support. This proclamation is a significant step to show that Wake County is a welcoming place that cares about building an inclusive community. As we move in the next few years, leadership like yours will be needed every day. We know you will continue to find ways to support the LGBTQ folks to continue the work of inclusion, and we want you to know that Equality NC is here to help. Just again, thank you for this proclamation and the ongoing work to bring equality to Wake County. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you. we will now move on to our consent agenda. As a reminder, all item on consent agenda are considered to be routine and may be enacted by one motion. If a commissioner requests a discussion on an item, the item will be removed from consent agenda and considered separately. So is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

I move approval.

I have a motion by Commissioner Stallings. Is there a second?

I'll second.

Second by Commissioner Evans. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries. The consent agenda is approved. It is now time for us to move on to our general public comments. At our regular meeting, the Board of Commission allocates time to hear from residents. Attendees had an opportunity to sign up using our online sign up app. We've also provided opportunity to sign up here in person. I have the list of people who signed up. When I call your name, please come to the podium, give us your name, and you will share what part of Wake County you reside in. Then you will have up to three minutes to speak. When you have one minute left, the yellow light will go on. When your time has elapsed, the red light will go on. If you're still speaking at the end of your time, I'll ask you to complete your sentence. In the interest of fairness to everyone, I'm going to try to be consistent about that. Please note that commissioners will not respond to comments shared today. The comment period is time for us to hear from you. I will begin with the first name on the list. And the first name on the list is Wiley Nichols. Yeah, I'm gonna wait and see if he's coming back in before we move on, because he's the only one on the list. That's why they want to move on because only one. Yeah. We just called your name. I know you had stepped out.

My first time here. Apologies to commissioners. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much, Chair Miles, Public Safety Chair Addison, for meeting with me on this request. I'm here today to ask for your support for an initial investment of $600,000 for the Wake County District Attorney's Office for the second half of the fiscal year. Wake County has 44 assistant DAs. Mecklenburg, a smaller county, has 94. Prosecutors here in Wake County average a caseload of over 2,400 cases compared to just 960 in Mecklenburg. The North Carolina Judicial Branch workload formula says Wake County has less than 65% of the staffing needed to handle the current caseload. In plain English, we're trying to do 100% of the work with just 65% of the staff. And when an office is stretched thin, things fall through the cracks. With the limited time I have, I want to talk to you just specifically about the detention center. My job as DA will be to move cases through the system. Your job is to fund the detention center. For defendants awaiting trial, Superior Court criminal cases in Wake County take a median of 440 days to resolve, among the longest in North Carolina. And while victims have to wait years rather than months for justice, Wake County taxpayers foot the bill at the detention center. Wake is already facing serious detention center capacity challenges and those pressures are only increasing with the Rainier's Law. Understand Wake County had to send 80 folks from the detention center out of county because there simply wasn't enough room to house them. If I take office with the staffing levels at current capacity, at current levels, I fully expect detention center numbers will increase. At roughly 50,000 per inmate, just 200 more inmates over the course of a year translates to roughly $10 million extra for your budget. Make that 400, you're looking at 20 million. With additional prosecutors and legal assistance, I can devote resources to the small number of cases that consume the most beds, the most court time, and the most taxpayer dollars. Those are often the mental health cases and the most complex felony cases. Moving those cases faster means victims get justice in months rather than years. It means fewer inmates sitting in the detention center waiting for court, and it means lower costs for the county. So the choice before you is simply to spend 600,000 now, or another 10 or 20 million later. 12 counties and municipalities across North Carolina fund the DA's office. Mecklenburg County alone funds 7 million a year because they recognize that moving cases faster improves public safety, reduces pressure on the detention center, And this funding, again, would allow me to create a dedicated mental health courtroom because we know that treatment, accountability, and strict supervision cost far less than repeatedly arresting the same people over and over again and processing them and cycling them through the detention center. In conclusion, I want to be clear about one thing before I take office. I do not believe the DA's office can meet its public safety needs with the staffing levels that exist today.

Please move on to your last sentence there.

If I'm asked to handle a caseload with 65% of the capacity, I don't believe I can do it. With this investment, I believe we can move cases faster, reduce detention center costs, improve public safety, and save taxpayer dollars. I hope you'll support this initial request and give me the opportunity to come back in a year to show you why this investment matters for public safety in Wake County. Thank you for allowing me that extra few seconds to finish, Chair.

Thank you so very much. Thank you. Thank you, everyone who signed up to speak. That completes the list of names that was provided for this meeting. We also offer residents the opportunity to submit general comments online. This process is managed by our clerk, Ms. Gilead. Will you kindly share any online public comments that you've received for this meeting?

There were no additional comments, Mr. Chair, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk Gilead. We will now transition to our regular agenda, and we only have one item on our regular agenda this afternoon, and that is the adoption of the fiscal year 2027 county budget. Michelle Vedito, would you please come forward, our budget and management service director, and walk us through this. Thank you, Michelle, and welcome. So please go ahead.

Yes, so I'll be brief. Tonight you are asked to adopt the FY 2027 budget. David Ellis's budget was $2,282,021,000, and that is also what the adopted budget put in front of you includes as well. These are the handful of ordinances that you are asked to approve on an annual basis from our operating budgets, our general fund budget, our capital budgets, and then some of our project ordinances. And so really then I leave it to you to have your discussion.

yeah thank you michelle so at this time um we'll open it up uh for board members that uh to make any comment for discussion anyone have a You want to go first?

I have some comments, Chair Myall, and my comments are a bit lengthy, so I appreciate people's patience. This has been on my heart and my mind for a long time, as I know it has many of us board members as we've contemplated our budget for weeks and months, really, but these are my comments. So I am going to support the county manager's recommended budget for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year, but this is not an easy decision, and it's not one that I take lightly. The recommended budget includes a property tax increase on average of $90 this upcoming year. I have been an elected official for seven years, and this is the first budget that I have worked on and been asked to vote on that dips significantly into financial reserves to balance a budget and pay for essential county operations. I know that many of our residents and businesses are feeling financial strain due to a volatile economy, inflation, and the President's tariffs and unprovoked war in Iran. The war is costing US taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. And it's caused gas, diesel, and fertilizer prices to significantly increase. All of us feel these increases, including the trucking industry that transports goods across the county, state, and nation. And our farmers who are trying to get their crops in the ground this planting season. When the President was asked recently about how much Americans' financial situations motivated him in his negotiations with the war in Iran, this is what he said to reporters, and I quote, not even a little bit. I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, close quote. Well, I can tell you one thing with certainty, that as one of your Wake County commissioners, I think about the financial situation and well being of our residents every single day. And I also know with certainty, my board colleagues and our county staff and employees bring a committed sense of purpose and compassion to their work every single day as well in serving the people of Wake County. So the county budget is not asking for billions and billions of taxpayer dollars to fund an unprovoked war in Iran or a ballroom. Nor is the county budget asking for $587.5 million for the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program, which is a fund that the majority party in the North Carolina General Assembly has created that uses state taxpayer dollars to assist wealthy families so they can pay tuition for their children to attend private schools. These same state legislators plan to allocate 600 more million for this program this upcoming fall, with plans to allocate up to 875 million for this program a year by the year 2032. On the contrary, what your Wake County budget invests in is services for the people of Wake County, and I'm going to speak to those shortly. As household budgets and business budgets feel financial strain, the county budget feels financial strain as well. Residents have asked me, has the county tightened up spending like family and business budgets have had to do? And I can say yes. The county has delayed projects and the county manager has said no to nearly 40 budget expansions for this upcoming fiscal year. Our revenue growth significantly declined this year, in part by property tax appeals that are waiting for resolution at the North Carolina Property Tax Commission, which is a process that is out of our control and will likely take a few to several months to be completed. There are currently more than 750 appeals from Wake County waiting to be resolved. There is also currently an affordable housing tax loophole that some owners of apartment complexes are exploiting for 100% property tax exemption. This has been in the news and is often referred to as the Blue Ridge housing loophole. Only the North Carolina General Assembly can close this loophole with legislation. We are hopeful that this will be addressed soon by the state legislature. All 100 counties are waiting for a state solution. In the meantime, our fiscal year 2027 budget has suffered over $12 million in lost revenue due to this tax loophole. County Manager Ellis has written a very informative summary of the status of our county's financial needs and how he and our staff came to the recommendations that they did for the upcoming fiscal 2027 budget. I highly recommend that residents take a look at this summary and it's on our website at wake.gov forward slash budget. You can see a link for this eight page budget summary at the link called budget message. The entire budget can be reviewed at the recommended budget link as well. The recommended county budget is roughly $2.2 billion for our roughly 1.28 million residents. Our budget invests in 16 more EMT positions so residents can get timely emergency medical care when it's needed. Also needed are investments in the sheriff's office, which includes detention expansion and staffing needs. We continue to allocate funding for fire services in the unincorporated parts of the county, health and human services, which includes public health, social services and behavioral health, and public education. Our public libraries, parks and preserves, the animal center, affordable housing support, veteran services, farmland preservation programs, and inspections at public pools, wells, and restaurants all receive funding through the county budget. The last thing I want to speak to is probably one of the most important parts of my comments today. And that is how much the county budget is covering for federal and state responsibilities that are being shifted down to us. The President and majority party in Congress passed what they called the One Big Beautiful Bill approximately one year ago. that gives significant tax breaks to the very wealthy, while also making significant cuts to health care and food and nutrition programs that could negatively impact millions of Americans. Our County Department of Social Services oversees eligibility and work requirements for the Medicaid and SNAP program here in Wake County. The One Big Beautiful Bill now doubles the workload for our staff and participants. To stay in compliance with this new law, we will have to add 25 more positions in this upcoming budget. 25 more positions. And finally, we have to talk about unfunded responsibilities that our state legislature continues to pass down to county governments. We had our budget staff itemize the number of services that the Wake County budget covers that are state responsibilities. The amount comes to $600 million. Let me repeat that, $600 million. The summary I referred to earlier that is on the county website outlines these services in detail. The largest line item is over $500 million for operating expenses for the Wake County public school system. County commissioners across North Carolina are supposed to pay for the building or capital costs for our public schools, meaning the building of new schools and major renovations. The state legislature is supposed to pay for operating expenses, which include salaries, instructional materials, transportation costs, and general maintenance. The state legislature continues to persistently underfund our public schools. North Carolina now ranks 46th in the nation in average teacher pay and dead last in the percent of our state's GDP that invests in public education. The majority of children in Wake County and our state attend public schools. County commissioners in our state continue to be asked to stand in this funding gap. To date, we have done that because our board has not been willing to turn our backs on our public school children and families. We do this to keep children, we do this to keep teachers in classrooms and bus drivers hired to safely transport our students to and from school. However, it comes at a cost and that cost is borne out in your property tax bills. If the state legislature fully funded that $600 million figure I referred to earlier, the average annual Wake County property tax bill would be reduced by $900. Let me say that again, a decrease in your county property tax bill by $900. The recent media blitz from the General Assembly is a political maneuver. They say they are very concerned about high property tax bills coming from county governments. But what they don't say is how much of it is because of what they are not doing for the people of North Carolina. If they funded what their constitutional responsibility is, we wouldn't need any bluster about constitutional amendments and property tax reform. And you would have significantly lower property tax bills from Wake County. There are three property tax relief programs that the state has created for seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, and people with disabilities. Two of them are referred to as the Homestead Exclusion and Circuit Breaker Programs. Our board and the State County Commissioner Association has persistently advocated that the eligibility requirements for these programs be modified so more Wake County residents and North Carolinians could qualify for more tax relief. Only the state legislature can amend these programs and to date they have indicated no interest in working to provide real solutions for real relief for those who need it most. The last thing I want to close with is this message to the public. It doesn't have to be this way. We have out of control spending at the federal level and a state legislature that hasn't passed a budget since 2023. We're the only state in the nation without a current state budget. We have underfunded public schools with teachers and other state employees such as state troopers and state prison workers having some of the lowest salaries in the nation. Again, I want to reiterate that your annual property tax bill could be decreased by $900 if the state legislature funded their constitutional responsibilities. And that does not require any constitutional amendments. It simply requires showing up and doing what you are elected to do. This November, voters will have a chance to say how they want their governments to operate and who they want representing them. There will be a US Senator from North Carolina on the ballot, all state legislators will be on the ballot, and many of your county commissioners will be on the ballot. Make sure your voter registrations are up to date and keep an eye out on what your elected officials are doing or not doing. Things can and should be better, and voters in November can play a significant role in helping Wake County, North Carolina, and our country get on a better path of financial recovery and fairness to all. In the meantime, if you are able to help a struggling neighbor or donate your time or financial resources to one of our many community organizations who are already set up to help residents in need, please do so. It will take all of us working together and caring for each other to get through these challenging times. I believe we can do it as long as we remain good neighbors to each other and work together for a future that includes everyone, respects everyone, and is fair to everyone. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Stallings. Commissioner Thomas.

Thank you, Chairman. Today, I will be voting in support of the County Manager's recommended budget. I do so with a clear understanding that this budget comes at a difficult time for many Wake County families. Residents are facing rising housing costs, higher grocery bills, increasing insurance premiums, and economic uncertainty that continues to place pressure on household budgets. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to acknowledge that reality. We also have a responsibility to ensure that the services people depend on every day remain strong, reliable and accessible. This budget reflects that balance. It invests in public safety, education, housing, parks and open space, health and human services, and the workforce that delivers those services. It continues our commitment to serving a county that grows every day while maintaining the quality of life that residents expect and deserve. At the same time, we cannot ignore the growing challenges being pushed onto local governments. Over the last several years, counties have increasingly been asked to do more with less. We continue to face unfunded and underfunded mandates from the General Assembly while absorbing the costs associated with rapid growth, infrastructure needs, and service delivery. Too often, local governments are being left holding the bill while being given fewer tools to manage the cost, and that is not sustainable. And while there's much discussion in Raleigh about property tax relief, many of the proposals we have seen do little to help the seniors on fixed incomes, working families, and long-time residents who are struggling most under the weight of rising costs. Property tax relief should mean relief people can actually feel. Because here's the truth, cuts alone is not a strategy. We keep hearing people say that. Our residents expect us to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, but they also expect us to provide the services that keep communities safe, healthy, and thriving. Budgets are moral documents. They reveal what we value. This budget says that we value safe communities, we value strong schools, we value affordable housing, we value public health, and we value preparing for the future instead of simply reacting to it. My vote today is not a declaration that every challenge has been solved. It is a commitment that Wake County, Team Wake as we affectionately call ourselves, will continue to show up for our residents even when the challenges are difficult. Because leadership is not about choosing between fiscal responsibility and community investment. It's about having the courage to do both of those things. And in uncertain times, standing still is not a strategy. And for those reasons, I will be voting for the manager's priority-focused, intentional, and balanced recommended budget. Thank you, Chairman.

Thank you, Commissioner Thomas. Now, Commissioner Jackson.

Yes. I want to first start by saying thank you. I support the comments of Commissioner Stallings and Commissioner Thomas. I too support this budget. I support it with a heavy heart. It matters to me how Wake County residents are surviving and thriving. $90 a year may be a night out on the town for many, but that's nine hours of work for too many. We look around Wake County and we see a story of immense success. We are growing, we are thriving, and we are attracting new neighbors every day. Yet beneath this prosperous surface lies an urgent, quiet need. We are a booming county with 1,000 people who are unhoused, working people who aren't able to afford food or housing. Nonprofits are struggling to keep pace with domestic violence, with mental health, and with other critical missions. Beyond those basic needs, our centers of well-being aren't getting the investments that they need. Parks, arts, libraries, these are the third spaces that build community and promote well-being. And we all know Wake County Public Schools is significantly underfunded. We are living a paradox, a booming county that is systemically struggling to meet the basic needs of people who make it run. We cannot measure our county's success solely by those who are thriving, nor can we ignore the infrastructure that sustains us all. From the vulnerable to the well-off, this county has a responsibility to ensure every person who calls it home can be supported. Guided by my values and social solidarity, my vote today reflects a commitment to an accountable, transparent government, and that lifts up those in crisis while maintaining a vibrant, strong community for us all. Sincere thanks to our county manager and staff who produced a fiscally responsible budget this year. We are maintaining our credit rating, we are protecting our priorities, we are balancing not only our budget, but we are balancing and showing up for all residents in North Carolina. I also support the $150,000 budget shift that we are looking at for food and nutrition services. In many ways, this is a nominal, but I fully support it because it raises awareness of the terrifying reality that hunger is rising and safety nets are wearing thin. At the same time, I hope people in this county will hear from me and all of us in this room that this budget is a canary in the coal mine. Knowing this, I've had residents ask me Just vote no, let it fail. Let the state elected officials take the brunt of it. And it's tempting to cast a rage vote out of that frustration with the status quo, but anger doesn't fund school lunches or emergency medical services. A budget should work for the people, not just pick up the tab for federal and state decisions. And this has been happening for too long on the backs of Wake County residents. When the federal and state governments fail to fulfill their obligations, we cannot hold our hands. We must stand in the gap alongside our nonprofits, faith communities, and private partners. Today, I am delivering a common sense vote rooted in my values. And I invite residents of Wake County to explore the realities of intergovernmental relations that are tying our hands. Commissioner Stallings gave a very comprehensive look at that intergovernmental relationships. Let me highlight another example. Commissioner Stallings mentioned that the budget includes 25 new positions. That's 2.3 million in funding to respond to the federal HR1 legislation. And there are so many other examples of these realities. Local property taxpayers should not have to continuously pick up the tab for federal and state cost shifting just to protect public education, public safety, and child welfare. But if the state continues to underinvest, and resident wages remain flat, we face a catastrophic next year. We will be forced to choose between cutting operating hours, slashing education funding, or reducing the vital third spaces that give our community life. This budget that we and that I will vote on today ensures the best that we can do right now, but it is an urgent alarm for tomorrow. We have exactly five months to change this trajectory. So let's get to work. Before I end my remarks, thank you again to the manager, manager's office, staff, nonprofits for what you do every day. and to, and I said this last year, but to our incredible Wake County business community, we invite you to join us at the table because creating a county where everyone thrives requires the unique heart and strength of every enterprise. So whether your leadership looks like a $10 million investment to structurally end homelessness or a $10,000 partnership to secure local food systems, there is a meaningful place for you to build a better home for all of us. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Jackson. Commissioner Evans.

Thank you, and thank you to all my colleagues for their comments that have already been made. I will try not to duplicate most of them, but I just want to acknowledge what an unusual budget season this has been, and thank the manager's office, his leadership team, and the budget staff, and all the departments for the way they had to really dig in this year. This budget by and large includes very few expansions. Most departments were told, just don't even bring me anything, there's no room. We started hearing in, I would say, January, if not before, that the revenue growth picture for the upcoming fiscal year was significantly different from the last few years. And so we were not going to have the growth in revenue that we have counted on in recent years to be able to fund the growth in demand for our services. I am happy to support the manager's proposed budget tonight, but I'm not happy about the budget. As has been mentioned, and as I know will typically be the lead story from the media, this budget will include a two cent tax increase, which is just a little over 3%. But the lead story needs to be that even with that, we have to take $35 million out of our reserves this year to fund this budget. This is my eighth year. working on a budget as a county commissioner, I can only ever recall one year that we took any money out of fund balance to fund the following year's budget, and it was a very small amount, one or two million dollars. This is unprecedented, and so I want the public to really understand that, and as has been mentioned, by Commissioner Stallings, I would encourage folks to read the few pages that are the manager's summary budget message and understand that, as I said, most departments aren't getting any increases in this budget. There's only a handful, and they are the services that we absolutely have to fund. As people continue to move into this county, continuing over the last five years or so to see a tremendous demand for emergency medical services. So that is included in this budget to add several more emergency medical staff. As you've heard, our detention centers are overflowing and so we're having to add staff there and part of that is because of our growing population and part of it is because the state prison system is understaffed and we're having to hold people in our jails longer because they can't be dealt with at the state level and other reasons as has already been mentioned we're having to add staff in our social services department twenty five positions just to help with the workload that we anticipate will be added in processing medicaid applications next year because of additional work requirements and more frequent eligibility requirements. This is a huge administrative load that's been passed down to the counties without any significant funding to support that. As most of you know, supporting our education continuum in this county is extremely important to me. As a former school board member, I came on this board with several priorities, but one of the most important was working to build a collaborative relationship with Wake County Public Schools leadership and board, between our staff and board, and we have done that, and I am so thankful for the partnership that has developed there, but As has been mentioned, the state is still continuing to underfund our public schools. And in recent years, you know, we've usually had to spend quite a bit of time during our budget deliberations going back and forth trying to figure out what was the highest possible amount of increase towards the school's operating budget that we could possibly afford. Well, this year, we couldn't even really have that conversation in any earnest way, but I'm happy to say that Superintendent Taylor and the school board have been in conversation with our staff and with us for months and they have taken to heart the information that we shared about our reduced revenue picture and they were very thoughtful in their ask this year and did not push us to fund more than we had any possibility of funding. So this year we're only investing an additional 25 million in the school district and their needs are far greater than that. We're also wanting to continue investing in our early childhood education program. We have kids on a waiting list for our three-school program whose families can't afford to send them to high-quality childcare and preschool. We've got a little bit of an expansion in this budget to cover 50 more slots, but the wait list is far greater than that. And we've put a little bit in for Wake Tech to help with admin and IT expenses there. Outside of that, we're funding a little bit of salaries and adjustments for our employees so we can retain our employees and pretty much that's it as far as any kind of expansions this year but as has been mentioned there are a number of things not the least of which is this blue ridge housing loophole that is costing us significant tax dollars and is putting us at a real disadvantage to being able to fund our budget this year i'm happy to say that the state House of Representatives has passed a bill that would mitigate that situation, and I urge our state senators to do the same very quickly. Otherwise, we're going to be in a really difficult situation next year this time. Just looking over my notes to see if there's anything else I wanted to highlight, but I mostly just want to say that I think we have all listened and our staff has really done the best they could in a fairly difficult year. and the only other year that even compares to this since i've been on the board would have been the spring of 2020 as the pandemic was just hitting us and we didn't know what to expect we didn't and we just towed the line on everything so we can't spend any extra money on anything and that's the only year that even comes close to the difficulties that we're facing this year so i hope that our community will understand that we are doing the best we can to fund the things that we absolutely need to fund so that we are providing the services necessary and maintaining our employees. And I'm happy to support this budget. I just wish it was able to be funded in a different way. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Waters.

Given how well you all have lifted up the feelings and the circumstances that we face today, I'll keep my remarks brief and I'll lift up really lived experience that many of our neighbors are facing on a daily basis as we have parents who are making hard choices, missing meals so their children can eat, seniors who are struggling to pay for their medication, those that are at risk of losing their homes. All of these are sobering realities that we face in our society today and I sit in the seat as a person who walks in tandem with the residents that I represent as a single mother who has one income and cares for children It is a time of immense pressure that our neighbors are facing and so I feel great distress as we look at where we are in our county budget. I feel so grateful for all of our county staff spent countless hours and many of which I'm sure have lost sleep trying to find ways to meet the basic needs of our community and really keep in mind how challenging it is in our society as a whole and these pressures have come from lots of different places and we are continuing to see this on a daily basis but I'm really grateful that our county manager and team continue to put investments in economic mobility housing stability, public health, education, and quality of life services, and continue to understand the pressures that our county residents are facing. This will be a painful budget year and a painful yes vote, but I do this understanding that we have critical services that we need to maintain and that we are continuing to invest in ways that will help our county residents long term, but I am so, so mindful of the sacrifices that our neighbors are making every single day and i hope that the essence of how all of us are feeling this time reach our state and federal elected leaders to know that they have the opportunity to change outcomes to address poverty to make sure that families don't have to make choices that they shouldn't have to make as we live in a country of abundance and overflow. This doesn't have to be our reality and I am here as a local government official in a space that is trying to stop really more pain from happening to our neighbors but I hope that those who have greater power than our roles will continue to do self-reflection and look inwardly to say that we have to do something differently for the people of our society. And so again, I am pained at this vote, but understand the necessity to fund areas that are critical for all of our neighbors. And I'm so grateful for our staff that has really, really, really done an incredible job of looking for dollars in every space. And I'm grateful for our residents who are continuing to strive and to work and make Wake County a great place to live and to work and to play. And I'm honored to be able to sit in the seat and give voice to that lived experience. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Waters. I will go ahead and make a quick comment and then we'll move on to our vote. This is important to us as a county. It's important to us as a people making sure that we provide the services to all the citizens of Wake County, all 1.2 million people. As we continue to grow at 66 people per day, Wake County is growing. And that requires a lot of us from the county perspective in order to make sure we provide those services for those 1.2 million people. As you've heard my colleagues indicate, this was a tough budget for us this year. There was a shortage of revenue. Normally we look at between $30 to $40 million in terms of revenue that we normally receive, and this year we're down to around $8 million that we received, which is the reason why we had to go to our fund balance in order to cover the gap. So you can see this requires a lot of patience, and of course I want to definitely make sure that we again say thank you to our staff, our accounting manager, and everyone that was involved in putting this budget together. It was not easy, but you guys worked hard. You gave us something to work with. So again, thank you, and I think my colleagues have covered about everything, so I don't know anything else I need to add in on that other than just say thank you. Now at this time, before we vote on this budget, I'd like to recognize Vice Chair Jackson.

Yes, thank you, Chair. Everyone, my fellow commissioners, I wish to disclose a potential conflict of interest regarding the funding of Wake County Smart Start. The Smart Start Network is a federated network, a collection of independent county-based nonprofits across the state that are interconnected by mission, funding, and central management. I work at that central office. I work at the State Office of North Carolina Partnership for Children, and as part of our function, we facilitate state contracts and other non-financial interests with 75 local county partnerships, including Wake County Smart Start. Our network is established by North Carolina law and funded by state dollars from the North Carolina General Assembly. This relationship could create a perception of bias or preferential treatment. And while I have, for 25 years, been a champion of babies, infants, toddlers, early childhood, I was not involved in the recommended budget regarding this item. I want to ensure full transparency during today's decision to continue funding Wake County Smart Start. Therefore, I ask the Board to approve my request to be recused from the voting of Wake County Smart Start funding only.

Thank you, Madam Vice. At this time, I'll make a motion to recuse Vice Chair Jackson. Is there a motion? So moved. I have a motion from Commissioner Evans. Is there a second?

I second it.

There is a second by Commissioner Stallings. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

The motion carries. Commissioner Jackson will be recused from voting on Smart Start. Okay, at this time, we will have a reading of the ordinance. And that'll be Commissioner Thomas.

I move that the Board of Commissioners adopts the following fiscal year 2027 budget-related ordinances that reflect the county manager's recommended fiscal year 2027 budget as revised. Operating budgets funds ordinances inclusive of General Fund Annual Operating Budget, Debt Service Fund Annual Operating Budget, Fire Tax District Fund Annual Operating Budget, Major Facilities Fund Annual Operating Budget, Solid Waste Fund Annual Operating Budget, South Wake Landfill Partnership Fund Annual Operating Budget, Corporate Fleet Fund Annual Operating Budget, Health and Dental Fund Operating Budget, Human Services Transportation Fund Annual Operating Budget, Wake County Public School Systems Fines and Forfeitures Fund Operating Budget, Human Services Client Trust Fund Annual Operating Budget, Risk Management Fund Operating Budget, and Capital Improvement Projects Fund ordinance inclusive of County Capital Projects Fund, Fire Tax District Capital Projects Fund, Major Facilities Capital Projects Fund, Solid Waste Capital Projects Fund, Housing Capital Projects Fund, Wake Technical Community College Capital Projects Fund, Wake County Public School Systems Capital Projects Fund, and special revenue project ordinances inclusive of housing affordability and community revitalization fund project ordinance, capital area workforce development fund project ordinance, grants and donations fund project ordinance, position and authorization classification and compensation ordinance. These ordinances are approved as amended by the following. increase the appropriation for the Cooperative Extension Department by $110,000 to support the Farm to Early Care and Education Program and the Farmers Market SNAP Program. reduce the appropriation for the non-departmental by a hundred and ten thousand dollars which results in a fiscal year general fund budget of two billion two hundred and eighty two million twenty one thousand dollars so moved mr chairman second okay we have a motion uh by commissioner thomas and we have a second by commissioner jackson all in favor please say aye aye

All opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, the motion carries. Now with the budget ordinance approved, we will now vote on the appropriation for Smart Start. Vice Chair Jackson is accused from this vote.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Commissioners appropriates funds for the Wake County Smart Start operations as captured in the county manager's recommended budget and reflected in the general fund annual operating budget ordinance. I will second that.

Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Thomas and second by Commissioner Evans. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please say no. The ayes have it, the motion carries. okay at this time uh i'm gonna go ahead and uh take a uh five minute uh break here before we move on to uh the rest of the agenda so we are now taking break Dr. Jackson, does the Board of Commission have any appointments to make to the Citizen Advisory Board or Commission at this time?

Yes, we do. Okay, Mr. Chair, there are several appointments to be made. I therefore move that the Board of Commissioners appoint the following individuals to these respective boards or commissions. We'll start with Agricultural Advisory Board with six reappointments. Eric Ragensberger, Talmadge Brown, Joni Bowden, William Upchurch, David Kennedy, Patrick Johnson. Capital Area Workforce Development with eight reappointments and three term completions. I move that we reappoint Paul Kane, Kenneth McCormick, Mark Benadry, Burt Tonsico, Shaughness Meador, John Blizzard, Kenneth Angley, Melissa Short, and Rodney Carlson. Three term completions, Courtney Holcomb, Glenda Underwood, and Jill Strait. The City of Raleigh Design Review Commission has one ETJ vacancy. The City of Raleigh Planning Commission has one term completion and one recommendation. One term completion for Roberta Fox, the ETJ. One recommendation received by the City of Raleigh to fill Thomas McAllister to fill the open ETJ representative seat. Durham-Wake County's Research and Production Service District Advisory Committee has three reappointments. Randy Salas, Gina Anderson, and Sarah Gaskill. The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team has three reappointments. Dawn Cornwell, Michelle Lesnik, Barry Bryant. The Energy Advisory Commission has one vacancy. The Fire Commission has one reappointment, one term completion. Reappointment of Connell Farrar and term completion for Christopher Pierce. The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council has two vacancies and one recommendation. Two vacancies for the Parks and Rec Designee and the Chief of Police Local Designee. And I'm happy to report that we have a recommendation received from the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council for Robert Sears of Holly Springs to represent to fill the Parks and Rec designee vacant seat. The Library Commission has one resignation, Jessica Peacock. Open Space Parks and Advisory Committee has one vacancy, District 5, and we have a recommendation by Commissioner Tara Waters of District 5 for Rashawn King to fill that seat. Wake County Community College Board of Trustees has one reappointment, Sandra Wall-Williams, and the Windale Planning and Zoning Board has two term completions, Tevis High and Gregory Hopkins, both ETJ representatives. And, Chair, that completes the appointments that I bring forward for June 1st.

Thank you, Madam Vice. Is there a motion?

Yes. Yes. I thereby move that the Board of Commissioners appoint the following individuals, the previously stated individuals, to their respective boards.

Thank you. We have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Okay, we have a motion by Vice Chair Jackson and a second by Commissioner Thomas. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please say no. Not hearing any, motion carries.

Okay.

All right, we have- So now we will move on to our Vice Chair for upcoming vacancies for next month.

All right, all these applications are due June 18th, 2026, and the appointments will be made July 6th, 2026. We have Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board with one reappointment, the Alcohol Beverage Control Board with two reappointments, Capital Area Workforce Development with one reappointment and three vacancies. We have a private sector seat representing Lee County, another private sector seat representing Johnston County, and a community-based organization representing Wake County. The Fire Commission has one reappointment and one vacancy, and that vacancy is for a nonprofit representative. The Health and Human Services Board has two vacancies, an optometrist and a veterinarian. The Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority has one reappointment. The Library Commission has three reappointments and one vacancy, and that vacancy is for a member-at-large seat. The Morrisville Planning and Zoning Board, one reappointment. Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee, three reappointments. United Arts Grants Panel, one reappointment. And then Wendell Planning and Zoning Board, two vacancies for the ETJ seats. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Vice. And now we'll move on to other business. Commissioners, would anyone like to share an update from an advisory or regional board that you are appointed to? Commissioner Stallings?

Thank you, Chair Mull. Just a couple of updates from our County Health and Human Services Board. I have mentioned before that we have an award in honor of the late Mayor Frank Eagles, and I wanted to announce who the award recipient was for this year. Her name was Miss Kathleen Herndon Lee, who lives in Western Wake. And she has just given decades of her life to service to the people of Wake County, particularly in the areas of food security and support for families in Western Wake. So I just wanted to lift up her voice. She was the award recipient for this year. And then secondly, with the NCACC, I currently serve as the chair for the Health and Human Services Committee. And it's been mentioned before that President Nelson's initiative this year is about healthcare across North Carolina access for healthcare. His initiative is called North Carolina Counties Care. And he has, with the work of staff at NCACC, has commissioned several white papers on healthcare in North Carolina. The first one was on rural healthcare and hospital closures, and of course that impacts all 100 counties. And the second white paper was on the North Carolina County Jail and those costs that's recently been released and that's all been sent out to county commissioners. And the third paper will be based on innovations in healthcare and there's an opportunity to participate in a Zoom meeting about that on Thursday, June 18th from 2 to 3.30. And so this final part of the initiative will be about innovations and looking at ways that we are making progress in the work of healthcare here in North Carolina. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Starling. Commissioner Evans.

Yes, I just wanted to highlight that the Campo Board as well as the GoTriangle Board will be considering and voting on the proposed FY2027 Wake Transit Work Plan at our upcoming meetings in June. And if anybody would like to weigh in on those, give me any feedback, you can go to the Campo website and search on the Wake Transit Work Plan. uh... for next year just in summary it will be about a hundred forty seven million of which think seventy eight million is operating costs mostly in bus service but a few other things and about ninety two million in capital investments this is all for the fiscal year of twenty twenty seven and this is funded primarily by your have sent sales taxes dedicated for transit, and then there's a few other registration fees and other things that provide a little funding, but we will be finalizing that work plan at the meetings later on in June if anybody's interested in giving any feedback. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Waters?

I had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting for WakeAid Partnership, as did Commissioner Evans, and just wanted to lift up that they welcomed seven new board members, and they also re-elected five current board members. Braxton Anthony will continue serving as the board chair, and they have expressed challenge, this also being a challenging year for fundraising, and just wanted to lift up their ongoing work to support our public schools, particularly in the tools for schools, and I know many of us participate in donating for back to school supplies, so that will be coming up as well.

Thank you, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Adamson.

Yes, I had the opportunity to attend the Library Commission meeting last week, and we have a robust program offering for Pride Month. It's on the website. There was a press release that went out today, so if you're looking for family-friendly Pride activities, there's lots going on in the libraries. Also had a board meeting with Interact. They are struggling financially. as a lot of their federal funding is disappearing and we at the county level are unable to fill all the gaps. So if anybody has any interest in helping fill that gap, they could sure use it.

Thank you, Commissioner Hattinson. Commissioner Jackson.

Okay, I just want to acknowledge that Passage Home completed yet another cohort for their workforce development just last week and continue to support folks on regaining second chances and regaining their stability. So we're thankful for the contribution of Passage Home. And so thankful to serve as a liaison and board member on behalf of us.

Thank you. And now we will move on to other reports from commissioners. Anyone have other reports? Commissioner Jackson?

Yep, I can just keep going here. Well, one, it is graduation season, so I am super excited about that. I attended my first one last week, and coming up, it's going to be one every day, getting around to celebrate the children and families of Southern Wake County. I also wanna acknowledge that just last week I had the opportunity to attend the Raleigh Chamber Foundations for Economic Success, What We Eat, Food Security, and Addressing Food Deserts. And really wanna thank our staff and the collaboration with the Raleigh Chamber. You all heard and we've expressed, and our budget reflects our commitment to food security. So I was very interested in seeing who was there. And unfortunately, it was very lightly attended. And so it's just lifting up these opportunities and thank Catherine at our work session. She mentioned the effort to try and get private investments and partnerships with businesses. So I just wanted to share with you all that I was there able to see it live and in person. And she and her team are right there on it, lifting up those opportunities. And just the title of the event, Foundations for Economic Success, What We Eat. So it's a celebration that we're moving forward with establishing those partnerships and just to continue call to try and get more people there because it was very lightly attended. but a success nonetheless. And also the fun time that Chair Myall and Commissioner Adamson and I had at the Devil Dogs. I'm not really a baseball fan, but I am a sports party fan. So it was a good time to be there to cut the ribbon and just have a good time. I mean, seeing the young children play and the families there, it's just, it's wonderful. And so we're thankful for a baseball stadium opening up in our county and being available for all kinds of partnerships throughout our county, including Wake Tech. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Jackson. Commissioner Evans.

Yes, I just wanted to highlight that I was able to attend the grand opening of the Boys and Girls Club at Fox Road Teen Tech Center that opened a few weeks ago. And I want to give a shout out to Best Buy, who funds most of this, and also Lenovo. This is a really awesome center with lots of technology equipment. You know, they were designing video games, they were making jewelry on 3D printers. We got to walk through and see all the things that these kids were working on. And you know, it's one of those things, it's almost like being in athletics or something else. You got to hear from some of the students who hadn't been particularly engaged in anything one way or the other till they discovered this teen tech center. And now they're there every day, and they're just loving everything that they learn. So I just want to say stop by and take a look if you have a chance, but just did want to give a shout out to some of our business partners that are helping invest in our youth. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Waters.

wanted to express gratitude for all the ways our county lifted up mental health in the month of May and had a chance to go to Roberts Park this weekend where they had lots of community partners out providing information and resources to address any mental health needs and concerns that may be pertinent and also appreciated having the chance to connect with our faith community along with Commissioner Stallings. We attended a gala with Ship Outreach that does an incredible job of providing a spectrum of resources for our neighbors who need support to be successful and to address barriers.

Thank you, Commissioner Waters. Anyone else? Yes, Commissioner Adamson.

I had the opportunity to attend the second annual Cooperative Extension Awards. It really wasn't a banquet, it was an afternoon. And it was really exciting to see the folks who won awards. And last year, Cooperative Extension had 1,700 volunteers that did 58,000 hours, and that's the equivalent of 25 full-time employees that was donated. and I also was at the Devil Dog Ribbon Cutting, and so if anybody wants any cheap family entertainment this summer, the tickets are $22 each, and that includes a buffet and non-alcoholic beverages, so that's cheaper than a movie in Wake County, and so if you have any interest in that, this would be a good summer to go see the Devil Dogs.

Okay, Commissioner Stallings.

Thank you, Chair. And just want to lift up again Memorial Day events. I mentioned this in the invocation, but there were a lot of events throughout the county honoring those military members who have died serving our country and just want to lift up all of them and their families and all the sacrifices that have been made on behalf of our country and us as Americans. And echoing Commissioner Waters on May was Mental Health Awareness Month. And it was also, as we noted in our proclamation, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. And there were a lot of events honoring both of these in Western Wake that I was able to get to. I mentioned before I co-chair a task force in Apex on mental health and we had our first event Friday night and NAMI was our guest speaker and we had a really good turnout of all ages and we had a number of providers there that tabled and I just want to lift up NAMI is actually a community resource if anyone needs a good presenter on mental health and resources they were really good and we have a really strong chapter here in Wake County NAMI stands for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and we have a really strong chapter with really good staff who'd be happy to come out and spend time with any of your organizations if you'd be interested. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Stallings. Any other? Well, I will make one comment. Of course, I attended the memorial program there in Knightdale, which, as Commissioner Stallings indicated, there was a number of them around the county, you know, as being a veteran and someone that tried to make sure that we continue to remember those that have given their all. And that's what the memorial is all about. So again, I just want to say thank you to all those that have served and those that are serving now. So that being said, anything else from the board? If I'm not hearing anything else, Mr. Askew, is there a need for a closed session this evening?

Yes, sir, Mr. Chair, the purpose of the closed session is to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, or conditions of employment of a public officer or employee pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11a6. Okay, County Manager.

Thank you. I just want to briefly state, as many of you know, there was an unfortunate shooting on May 22nd on county property, and I want to take a moment and lift up. Major Newkirk is gone, but the men and women of the sheriff's office, along with... Chief Rico Boyce and Raleigh PD and just the swiftness of their response to ensure that no other folks were injured and they just did a marvelous job and I just want to lift them up for that, so thank you.

Thank you, Manager Ellis. I think we all definitely expressed our same sentiments to the Wake County and Raleigh PD in terms of their quick reaction in terms of hopefully preventing any additional situation that may could have occurred. That's what public safety is all about, and those guys are the first line of defense for us. So again, we definitely appreciate all that you guys do, those that are in the ordinance that continue to serve.

Again, so with that being said, we- Chairman, I'm happy to make the motion for closed session for the reasons identified by the county attorney.

So we have a motion, is there a second? I'll second. And I have a second by Commissioner Evans. All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please say no. Ayes have it. Okay, we are now back out of closed session and we do not have anything to report. So thank everyone and that concludes our agenda for today. The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15th at 2 p.m. So do I have a motion to adjourn?

Motion to adjourn.

I got a motion by Commissioner Waters. Is there a second?

Second.

Got a second by Commissioner Thomas. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed say no. The ayes have it. Meeting officially adjourned.