RALEIGH- Wake County could be headed toward a small budget surplus without cuts for the first time in three years.

However, the county faces a slew of requests for new funding, particularly from transit systems, Wake County Public Schools and Wake Technical Community College.

Chairman Paul Coble reiterated his stand that the property tax be kept at 53.4 cents per $100 of assessed value and that Wake Tech be the beneficiary of any expansion of major capital projects, because of its job creation potential.

Commissioners Betty Lou Ward and Irv Portman spoke up for transit. Portman advocated for a referendum this fall for a half-cent sales tax devoted to a regional transit plan.

Democrat James West argued for more funding for Wake County schools.