Wake’s Burns explains position on school funding

Wake County Commissioner John Burns has given a detailed explanation for why he’s not in support of fully funding the school board’s request this year for a $48.3 million increase in local funding.

In a lengthy Facebook post Tuesday, Burns writes that providing about $6 million more than the $34.6 million increase recommended by County Manager Jim Hartmann would be a “responsible place.” But Burns says providing $48.3 million would reduce budget flexibility for things such as getting voter support for passing a transit referendum in 2016.

“Education has been underfunded, and we must work to overcome the hole my predecessors and their ideological soulmates in the General Assembly placed us in,” Burns writes. “But I don't think it would be responsible to try to do it all in one year.”

Burns, a Democrat, also isn’t backing a proposal supported by WakeUP Wake County to raise property taxes a cent higher than proposed. Hartmann is proposing a 2.9-cent tax rate increase. A 3.9-cent increase would fund nearly all of the $48.3 million increase for schools.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners will vote on the $1.13 billion county budget on Monday.

Political events

▪ Ciara Zachery of the Health Care Coalition will speak to the Wake Senior Democrats on Wednesday, June 17, at the Crabtree Marriott hotel in Raleigh. The meeting starts at 11 a.m. with lunch followed by the program at 11:30 a.m.

▪ Second Congressional District candidates Jim Duncan and Frank Roche will speak to the Western Wake Republican Club on Monday, June 22, at Danny’s BBQ, 311 Ashville Ave., #G, in Cary. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7 p.m.

Compiled by T. Keung Hui and Richard Stradling.

This story was originally published June 12, 2015 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Wake’s Burns explains position on school funding."