Town Hall · Wake Forest

Wake Forest, NC town hall & government

Wake Forest spent $111.5 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,182 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Wake Forest's government.

Town budget

Where Wake Forest's money goes

Spent
$111.5 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$2,182
typical North Carolina cities: $2,639
Long-term debt
$33.9 million
$664 per resident
Water & other utilities
$25.2 million23%
Police
$16.7 million15%
Administration & buildings
$16.1 million14%
Fire
$14.1 million13%
Parks & libraries
$10.9 million10%
Housing & development
$8.4 million8%
Roads & transportation
$7.6 million7%
Sewer & trash
$7.1 million6%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$2.7 million2%
Interest on debt
$1.2 million1%
Other
$1.7 million2%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 36%
  • Utility sales 22%
  • Sales taxes 16%
  • From the state 10%
  • Interest, fines & other 8%
  • Fees & charges 5%
  • Other taxes & licenses 3%
Town workforce

Who works for Wake Forest

Full-time staff
426
78 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$82,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
91
and 97 full-time firefighters
Police
114 full-time3 part
Fire
98 full-time16 part
Administration & buildings
52 full-time1 part
Parks & libraries
28 full-time48 part
Water & other utilities
25 full-time
Roads & transportation
23 full-time
Sewer & trash
14 full-time
Other
72 full-time10 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Wake County Schools

Wake Forest's K–12 school district, shared with Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Rolesville and Wendell. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$12,279
North Carolina: $13,045
Students
161,481
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$2.3 billion
at year end

Where the district's money comes from North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal

  • Local 34%
  • State 56%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $12,279 per pupil, $8,085 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Wake Forest: Franklin County Schools ($12,785 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Wake Forest pay

Typical tax bill
$3,853
a year · North Carolina typical $1,896
Effective rate
0.81%
of home value · North Carolina 0.66%
Typical home value
$474,500
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Wake Forest's government

🏛️ Official websitewakeforestnc.gov ↗
Town hall phone(919) 435-9400

Town hall & decisions in Wake Forest →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Wake Forest

Wake Forest is represented in Congress by Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and Representatives Deborah K. Ross and Brad Knott. Josh Stein is governor.

All of Wake Forest's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Wake Forest

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