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"There is no greater power for change than a community discovering what it cares about"– Margaret J. Wheatley

Public Education
Public education is our largest county budget and the first place we account for growth in our fast-growing county. Due to long-standing state underfunding of Wake schools, I partner with the school board to fund teacher compensation and operations the state ignores. As an education champion, I step up where the state creates gaps.
Material & Infant Heath
Wake County Public Health has many priorities, but maternal and infant health is where I’ve focused my deepest work. Every parent and newborn deserves a healthy start, yet infant and maternal mortality numbers remain unacceptably high across North Carolina. Through our Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan, I’m committed to doing our part to bring down these numbers and protect families.
Early Childhood Development
Wake County must help North Carolina reclaim its standing as a premier state for early childhood education, and I am proud of our strategic direction. Because the first five years form the foundation of all learning, ensuring strong early development is my ultimate priority. These intergenerational investments deliver unmatched social, academic, and economic returns. By championing early learning, we fuel the county's lifelong learning goals and build our future residents, workforce, and county leaders.
Economy
Championing both large businesses and small enterprises, I advocate for the triple bottom line: prioritizing people, plant, and profits. The county's economic development policy keeps us competitive while holding corporate partners to high standards of responsible citizenship, including fair wages. I am also committed to carefully balancing economic development with our county's infrastructure capacity so we welcome responsible corporate partners without overextending ourselves.
Housing and Food
Housing and food are basic needs from life's first years to final years. As our county is the last line of defense, I have ensured these are top priorities in our budget and strategic alliances. I champion the full spectrum of housing needs, from supporting the unhoused to ensuring homes for all cost under thirty percent of income. Partnering with governments, nonprofits, faith and business groups, we steward these basic needs.
Public Safety
Rapid county growth and state funding gaps create compounding pressures on EMS, sheriff, and fire. I proudly voted to dedicate revenue from our natural growth to public safety. I beleive we should prioritize first responder operational needs and champion partnerships with municipal partners to ensure we maintain our designation of hosting two or more of North Carolina's safest towns.

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

County government serves as both a first responder for resident well-being and the last line of defense against state and federal underfunding. County commissioners oversee an interconnected ecosystem where investments in housing, public education, public health, and public safety produce compounding returns for every taxpayer. Delivering on core promises requires enduring partnerships across faith communities, business leaders, and non-profit organizations to build a multi-generational human infrastructure where every Wake County neighbor thrives.

​

Safiyah believes that counties can deliver on the promise of:​

​

  • Life: Protecting Basic Needs and Essential Foundations County commissioners must prioritize securing basic human needs as the foundation of local government responsibility. This means protecting essential resources—ranging from affordable housing and food security to clean soil and water—while safeguarding vital social services like foster care and healthcare access against state and federal cost shifts.

​

  • Liberty: Preserving Freedom, Safety, and Civic Access Liberty relies on the fundamental ability of residents to move about freely, live safely, and fully engage in civic life. County commissioners fulfill this by ensuring first responders have the necessary tools to keep neighborhoods safe, protecting public health, and guaranteeing that local elections remain free, fair, and accessible to every voter.

​

  • Happiness: Cultivating Community, Culture, and Quality of Life Community vitality thrives when residents have access to rich public spaces and a vibrant creative economy. County commissioners foster local happiness by investing in parks, public libraries, arts programs, and early childhood enrichment where families and neighbors come together.

​

  • Balanced Governance: Fiscal Stewardship and Honest Trade-Offs The single most important responsibility of a county commissioner is to pass a balanced budget on time. Facing external revenue pressures and unfunded mandates, county commissioners must lead with transparent governance and disciplined decision-making. This approach requires identifying honest trade-offs to keep spending in balance without dealing unfair blows to any single essential service or vulnerable population.

​

Where the Money Comes From (Fiscal Year 2027 Revenue)

​

  • 75% Property Taxes: The primary revenue foundation that powers local services.

  • 14% Sales Taxes: Consumer-driven revenue tied to regional economic activity.

  • 4% Federal & State Dollars: Intergovernmental funding subject to top-down policy shifts.

​

Where the Money Goes (Fiscal Year 2027 Expenditures)

​

  • 36% Education Operating Expenses: Direct investment in local public schools, educators, and early learning.

  • 24% Debt & Capital: Infrastructure, facility maintenance, and long-term county investments.

  • 14% Human Services & Housing: Social safety net programs, public health, and affordable housing initiatives.

  • 12% Public Safety: Law enforcement, emergency services, and community protection.

  • 5% General Government: Operational, administrative, and civic management functions.

  • 3% Community & Environmental Services: Parks, open space preservation, waste management, and soil/water conservation.

​

For a detailed analysis of local financial projections and fiscal pressures, review the official Wake County Manager's Budget Outlook.

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

  • X
  • TikTok
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

County government serves as both a first responder for resident well-being and the last line of defense against state and federal underfunding. County commissioners oversee an interconnected ecosystem where investments in housing, public education, public health, and public safety produce compounding returns for every taxpayer. Delivering on core promises requires enduring partnerships across faith communities, business leaders, and non-profit organizations to build a multi-generational human infrastructure where every Wake County neighbor thrives.

​

Safiyah believes that counties can deliver on the promise of:

​

  • Life: Protecting Basic Needs and Essential Foundations County commissioners must prioritize securing basic human needs as the foundation of local government responsibility. This means protecting essential resources—ranging from affordable housing and food security to clean soil and water—while safeguarding vital social services like foster care and healthcare access against state and federal cost shifts.

​

  • Liberty: Preserving Freedom, Safety, and Civic Access Liberty relies on the fundamental ability of residents to move about freely, live safely, and fully engage in civic life. County commissioners fulfill this by ensuring first responders have the necessary tools to keep neighborhoods safe, protecting public health, and guaranteeing that local elections remain free, fair, and accessible to every voter.

​

  • Happiness: Cultivating Community, Culture, and Quality of Life Community vitality thrives when residents have access to rich public spaces and a vibrant creative economy. County commissioners foster local happiness by investing in parks, public libraries, arts programs, and early childhood enrichment where families and neighbors come together.

​

  • Balanced Governance: Fiscal Stewardship and Honest Trade-Offs The single most important responsibility of a county commissioner is to pass a balanced budget on time. Facing external revenue pressures and unfunded mandates, county commissioners must lead with transparent governance and disciplined decision-making. This approach requires identifying honest trade-offs to keep spending in balance without dealing unfair blows to any single essential service or vulnerable population.

​

Where the Money Comes From (Fiscal Year 2027 Revenue)

​

  • 75% Property Taxes: The primary revenue foundation that powers local services.

  • 14% Sales Taxes: Consumer-driven revenue tied to regional economic activity.

  • 4% Federal & State Dollars: Intergovernmental funding subject to top-down policy shifts.

​

Where the Money Goes (Fiscal Year 2027 Expenditures)

​

  • 36% Education Operating Expenses: Direct investment in local public schools, educators, and early learning.

  • 24% Debt & Capital: Infrastructure, facility maintenance, and long-term county investments.

  • 14% Human Services & Housing: Social safety net programs, public health, and affordable housing initiatives.

  • 12% Public Safety: Law enforcement, emergency services, and community protection.

  • 5% General Government: Operational, administrative, and civic management functions.

  • 3% Community & Environmental Services: Parks, open space preservation, waste management, and soil/water conservation.

 

For a detailed analysis of local financial projections and fiscal pressures, review the official Wake County Manager's Budget Outlook.

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