Wake County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Wake County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 Real Estate Revaluation Process
An addendum to the Schedule of Values, Standards and Rules will be submitted for the 2027 countywide property revaluation. These rules help determine what your home is assessed at — and indirectly, your property tax bill.
Town of Wendell Fire Tax District Separation
The Town of Wendell, Wendell Fire and the county are set to sign a merger memorandum of understanding. It could change how fire service is delivered and funded in the Wendell area.
Cybersecurity and Phishing Threats Targeting Permit Applicants
County staff warned about sophisticated phishing campaigns that use real permit application details to trick contractors into paying fraudulent invoices. Officials stressed that the county never sends permit invoices via email and requires payments to be made directly through the official permit portal.
Clean Energy Roadmap and Building/Fleet Electrification
Staff presented updates on the county's progress toward achieving 100% clean energy by 2050, highlighting energy-efficient building designs, solar panel installations, and challenges in electrifying emergency vehicle fleets.
Support for Wake County Cultural Arts Plan
The committee explored how the arts drive economic development, combat loneliness, and improve community wellbeing. Commissioners discussed integrating arts goals into the county's strategic plan and branding Wake County as a cultural destination.
After-School Youth Development and Student Support
Smart Start officials highlighted the successes and ongoing struggles of the NC Pre-K and Wake 3 School programs, including staffing shortages, low wages, and transportation barriers.
Treadway Farm Agricultural Conservation Easement
The county approved an agreement to preserve 55 acres of prime farmland near Zebulon through a donated conservation easement in partnership with the Triangle Land Conservancy.
2027 Board of Commissioners Operational Adjustments
The county is planning ahead for how committees and agendas will be managed when the board expands to nine commissioners.
Food Security and Local Agricultural Support
As federal ARPA funding sunsets, commissioners debated how to sustain critical food security programs like the Farm to Early Childhood pilot and farmers market SNAP matching initiatives.
Novartis Business Development Grant Agreement
Wake County approved a business development grant to help bring Ralliant Corporation's corporate headquarters to the North Hills area, creating 180 executive and administrative jobs with an average salary of $190,000.
Affordable Housing 2025 CAPER Report
County housing staff presented the annual HUD performance report, highlighting progress on affordable housing goals while noting the impending sunset of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Strategic Plan Aging Population and Senior Services
With Wake County ranking second in the nation for senior population growth among large counties, commissioners are developing a comprehensive aging plan and strategic goal to address housing, health, and social connection needs.
Wake County Office Park Redevelopment
The county is moving forward with a $214 million redevelopment of its Pool Road office park, combining General Services, library administration, and corporate training into an efficient campus that maximizes county-owned land.
Affordable Housing HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Amendment
The board reallocated federal HOME-ARP funds from shelter to permanent affordable housing development and supportive services.
Business Development Grant Policy Revisions
The board updated its economic development incentive policy to create a transformational project tier and adjust wage thresholds to attract large employers.
Triangle Bikeway Regional Maintenance and Construction
Planning officials are coordinating across county lines to determine who will build and maintain the multi-use Triangle Bikeway.
Early Voting Site Access at NC State University
Student leaders and Democratic party representatives urged the board to provide contingent funding to restore an early voting site at NC State's Talley Student Union after the Board of Elections relocated it to a less accessible off-campus site.
Alliance Health Operational and Financial Oversight
Alliance Health leaders discussed local service investments and operational pressures, including Medicaid policy changes, fraud concerns, and support for uninsured residents.
Maternal and Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative
Wake County reviewed ongoing efforts from the Maternal and Infant Mortality Work Group, featuring regional town halls, an interactive resource map, and strategies to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.
Wake County Farmland Preservation Plan Adoption
The county adopted a comprehensive farmland preservation plan to protect working agricultural lands from rapid development pressure and leverage state conservation funding.
West Wake Solid Waste Facility Schematic Design
With the South Wake Landfill expected to reach capacity between 2040 and 2045, the county is studying future waste disposal alternatives, including new landfills, regional hauling, and waste-to-energy facilities.
Wendell North Public Safety Station Schematic Design
The board approved the design for a new regional EMS and fire station in Wendell, which will feature 8 EMS bays and house up to 20 deployed ambulances.
Wake County DNA Laboratory Operations
Wake County has established its own accredited DNA lab to process evidence locally, reducing reliance on the overloaded state crime lab and speeding up investigations for violent crimes and sexual assault kits.
Water Restrictions
Raleigh Water is implementing mandatory outdoor water restrictions because of a persistent drought in Wake County. You'll soon have to follow new rules regarding when and how you can water your lawn.
Employee Benefits RFP and Health Plan Review
Wake County is conducting a comprehensive review and competitive bidding process for employee health, dental, vision, and retiree benefits. Staff will return with final recommendations and cost impact analyses in June and July.
Wake County Detention Center Phase 3 Expansion
Wake County is moving forward with designing a massive 600-bed expansion to its detention center to handle growing inmate populations, state backlogs, and new laws. The project is estimated to cost between $175 million and $210 million and will allow the county to eventually close its temporary annex facility.
WCPSS and Wake Tech Capital and Operating Funding
The county is reviewing massive capital funding needs for public schools ($2.9 billion) and Wake Tech ($440 million), highlighting a growing gap where county contributions are rising much faster than state funding.
GoTriangle Regional Transit and Wake Transit Plan Updates
The county approved $900,000 to keep Medicaid medical transportation running smoothly through GoWake Access. This funding ensures vulnerable residents can reliably get to essential healthcare appointments.
Burn Ban
Wake County issued a total outdoor burn ban because dry conditions have created a serious wildfire risk. You'll need to hold off on backyard fires and burning yard waste until conditions improve.
Workforce Development and Apprenticeships
Wake Tech leaders showcased their expanding apprenticeship programs, facility investments, and strategies to improve economic mobility for county residents.
Rebuilding of EMS Station 5
The county is replacing its 1989-era EMS station on Hargrove Road with a modern facility featuring three vehicle bays and green building technologies to improve emergency response capabilities.
Wake County Housing Authority Portfolio Modernization
The Housing Authority is working to fix neglected public housing units, bring dozens of vacant units back online, and improve living conditions for residents.
Election Results
Local primary elections are wrapped up, and we now know which candidates are moving on to shape policy in Wake County. These winners will directly influence local rules and budgets that affect your day-to-day life.
Community Health Improvement Plan Priorities
The county launched its strategic Community Health Improvement Plan focusing on three main pillars: healthcare access, affordable housing and homelessness, and mental health support.
FY 2026 Hospitality Tax Competitive Funding
Wake County is distributing $23.5 million in hospitality tax funds to support tourism-driving capital projects across nine municipalities, focusing heavily on sports complexes and parks.
Winter Storm Emergency Response
County staff and municipal partners managed emergency white flag shelters during back-to-back winter storms, accommodating over 450 individuals in need of shelter.
Library Bond Project Reallocations
The county is restructuring its library bond spending to integrate the library administration building with general services, freeing up funds to expand Green Road Library and replace Olivia Raney Library.
Election Candidates
The official candidate lineup for the 2026 Raleigh mayoral and City Council races is finally out, meaning it's time to start sizing up who you want running the city. These upcoming local elections will shape the future direction of Raleigh's growth, policy, and leadership.
Municipal Elections
Incumbent mayors across Wake County took a beating in the 2025 local elections, meaning big changes are coming to how our towns are run. If you've been wanting fresh leadership in your local government, your vote just delivered.