It would appear that Wake County taxpayers will have to foot some of the costs of the December reception for new school board members.

Leaders of the Wake Schools Community Alliance had agreed to pay out of their own pockets the cost of the reception. But now they're only paying part of the cost because of questions about the bill.

Joe Ciulla, Kristen Stocking and Sarah Redpath have picked up $300 of the $693.83 bill for the reception. (Staff had previously reported the bill at $749.66.)

Compared to the Raleigh City Council, the Wake County school board had a really cheap reception this week for new members.

As noted in today's article by Sarah Ovaska, Raleigh taxpayers will foot a $9,854.66 bill for food and drink for Monday's reception for newly sworn-in council members. In contrast, Tuesday's reception for new school board members will cost $749.66, with the cost being picked up by private citizens and not the public.

"That's a disgrace in this day and age," said Joe Ciulla of the cost of the Raleigh reception.

The new school board members have now taken their seats.

All four new members made brief speeches after being sworn in. Deborah Prickett singled out the Wake County Republican Party and the Wake Schools Community Alliance for their support during the campaign.

“This was a non-partisan race but as you know this became fairly political,” Prickett said. “I want to thank (Wake GOP Chairman Claude Pope) and the Wake County Republican Party for stepping up to the plate. It shows they’re totally for families and children in this county.”

It looks like supporters of the new school board members will step forward to cover the cost of next Tuesday's reception.

The board traditionally holds a brief reception after new members are sworn in. The cost is usually covered by the district. But private citizens have offered to pay the costs this time.

"Parties like these should be paid for by private dollars," said Kristen Stocking, founder of the Wake Schools Community Alliance, whose support helped elect all four new members.

UPDATE

Joe Ciulla said he, Stocking and Sarah Redpath will pay for the reception out of their own pockets. All three are leaders in WSCA.

"We don't want taxpayers and students to pay for this," Ciulla said. "The four new board members campaigned on fiscal responsibility."