RECOMMENDED CARY BUDGET HOLDS LINE ON TAXES & SOLID WASTE FEES, DOUBLES PARKS, TRANSPORTATION SPENDING

Public hearings to be held throughout May

CARY, NC – Citizens will have double the opportunities this year to comment on the Town of Cary’s proposed $217.7 million budget to support $135,064,159 in operations and $82,644,725 in capital projects for Fiscal Year 2007, which runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.  The plan includes no property tax or solid waste fee increase, while doubling spending on parks and transportation projects as well as appropriating $10 million to purchase additional open space.   Citizens are invited to share their views at either of two budget public hearings to be held as part of the regular Town Council meetings on May 11 and May 25, which begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at 316 N. Academy Street in downtown Cary . 

“The Council’s direction over the last several years to delay new debt and further tighten spending while taking steps to facilitate tax base expansion have all combined to strengthen next year’s financial outlook,” said Town Manager Bill Coleman, who reviewed his recommended budget with the Cary Council during a work session Tuesday.

Highlights of Coleman’s proposed capital plan include $26.9 million for street improvements and other transportation initiatives, $26.4 million in water and sewer projects, $13 million for upgrades to the public safety radio system and other general government needs, $2.4 million for fire, and nearly $14 million for parks including open space.

“With the amount of available undeveloped land decreasing and the cost of land continuing to climb, it makes sense for us to expedite purchasing open space as quickly as possible,” said Coleman.  

While most of the proposed capital spending would be paid for with cash, Coleman is recommending selling $10 million in Clean Water Bonds approved by voters in 2005.

Highlights of Coleman’s proposed operating plan include maintaining the current property tax rate of 42 cents per $100 of valuation and keeping the solid waste collection fee at $11.75 per month, even though the full cost recovery for curbside collection tops $15 per month.  Town staff has also been able to hold the expected rise in Cary utility rates to 6.3 percent—$3.77 more a month for a Cary customer using 7,000 gallons of water.

The proposed operating budget also includes a limited number of additional staff to maintain existing service levels throughout Cary ’s 50+ square miles, particularly in the areas of police, inspections, and parks, recreation, and cultural resources.  This year’s budget proposes to increase Town staff by 28.875 positions (2.7 percent) for a total of 1092 employees, or about 9.5 staff for each 1,000 Cary residents – one of the lowest staff-to-citizen ratios in the state for a large municipality. 

“Because we continue to operate under the philosophy that adding personnel is the most expensive, long-term solution to any situation, we work hard to find alternative ways to achieve our goals, only adding staff when it’s absolutely necessary,” said Coleman.

The Town of Cary ’s annual budget is a work and financial plan designed to implement the Town Council’s vision for the community as articulated in their goals and initiatives:

• Achieve a well-planned community using innovative and proactive planning approaches and techniques

• Ensure that roads, water and waste water facilities, parks, and other infrastructure exists for the existing citizens and for the future needs identified in the comprehensive plan

• Achieve a stable and strong financial position by accurately estimating, prudently allocating and managing financial resources

• Achieve a high level of service to the citizens in a prompt, reliable, responsive, and cost effective manner

In addition to Tuesday’s work session and the budget public hearings in May, the Town Council will hold at least one additional work session to discuss aspects of the proposed budget in greater detail.  Any changes or additions to the Manager’s recommended budget that the Council would like included will be listed separately and voted on in conjunction with approval of the entire budget at the regular Council meeting on June 22.  North Carolina law requires local governments to adopt a balanced budget by June 30 since the new fiscal year starts July 1.

Beginning May 1, printed copies of the budget will be available for review at Town Hall and at the Cary public library.   Information from the proposed budget will also be available at www.townofcary.org. 

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