Residents urge Wake County to protect elections, food-as-medicine and shelter funding during FY 2027 budget hearing

At a May 18 hearing on Wake County’s recommended FY 2027 budget, residents and nonprofit leaders asked commissioners to preserve funding for election administration, food-as-medicine efforts and homelessness services.

Mary Thompson, of the NAACP Raleigh-Apex branch, commended county election staff for a national award and urged the Board to “continue investing in this infrastructure” that supports same-day registration, staff recruitment and voter education ahead of the 2026 cycle. Thompson said Wake County has become “a national model for election administration.”

Multiple speakers urged continued support for Nourish Rx and related programs that deliver fresh produce to households. Kendall Kirk, representing Nourish Rx partners, said Nourishing Wake — launched in spring 2025 after the county’s 2023 food security plan — has reached more than 1,000 households (about 2,500 residents) and reported a 54% decrease in food insecurity and a 70% decrease in nutrition insecurity among participants. “Continued funding in Nourishing Wake is an investment in our community that will pay dividends,” Kirk said.

Ethan Barkoukas, executive director of Farmer Food Share, described the organization’s partnership with Nourishing Wake and reported that in the past year his group delivered produce boxes equivalent to “180,221 meals” to Wake County residents, arguing that the program reduces pressure on county services and health costs.

David Bell, a Southeast Raleigh resident, described personal experience with food access and said Nourish Rx provides fresh produce that recipients otherwise cannot obtain from conventional food banks.

Speakers representing homelessness services warned against cuts to shelter funding. Jessica Kitzhaber, a resident of the Helen Wright Center, described how the shelter helped her secure housing and stabilizing services and urged commissioners “to vote what your heart tells you to do” rather than cutting services. Veronica Barsivik, a board member with Urban Ministries of Wake County, briefed the Board on program outcomes and capacity, saying that between January and August “66 women moved from the shelter into permanent housing,” the shelter serves about 74 women at a time, and rising housing costs are increasing demand.

Throughout the comment period, speakers framed these programs as upstream investments that can reduce emergency costs for the county and improve public health and housing stability. Several noted the county’s constrained budget but asked commissioners to prioritize sustaining existing services rather than cutting foundation-level operational support.

The Board received the comments; no vote on the budget occurred at the meeting. The Board did approve routine items on the consent agenda and several ceremonial proclamations earlier in the meeting. The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for June 1 at 5 p.m.