Wake budget calls for job cuts, no tax increase

RALEIGH -- A budget for Wake County government unveiled Monday would cut spending, cut jobs, freeze pay raises and keep the property tax rate flat.

County manager David Cooke’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year would decrease county spending about $31 million from what was approved last year by cutting spending in nearly every aspect of local government, including education, libraries and social services.

The county’s contribution to the budget for the Wake County Schools would drop about $3 million from what was allocated in 2009, though Cooke pointed out that the schools would actually get a little more money next year if $5.7 million returned to the county coffers late last year by the school board to help cover spending shortfalls is factored in.

Cooke’s proposed 2010 budget would eliminate 122 full-time positions, all but about 20 of which are currently vacant. The county has been in a hiring freeze since the economic crisis hit in the fall.

Cooke said in an interview last week that the affected employees could be placed in other county jobs deemed more essential. “If people want to stay with the county, they will have to take another position,” Cooke said. “But we will do what we can to accommodate them.”

There will be no pay raise next year for county employees, though they also won’t face being furloughed from their jobs, as state government workers have been.

The county commissioners will consider Cooke’s proposed budget and vote next month, but his proposals appear to have the general support of a majority on the elected board.

The manager said the cutbacks are necessary to offset declines in sales tax revenue and decreased fees collected from slowed growth in the local economy. The revenue declines have been especially significant for the register of deeds and planning office, county departments heavily reliant on fees paid through real estate sales and new development.

Though funding and position cuts are proposed for the sheriff’s department and the emergency management services, the manager stressed that he was focusing on areas that would not affect public safety.

“We’re not taking deputies off patrol or ambulances off the road,” he said.

Cooke would also close two library branches – Athens Drive and Duraleigh – decommission a bookmobile, and roll back service hours throughout the library system.

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