Our Structure
Cary, North Carolina exists because the people who lived here many years ago asked the State of North Carolina to officially recognize their community and to give them the right to chart their own destiny. These people banded together because they knew they could accomplish more as a group than they could as individuals. Over the years, they created a shared vision for the area and put in place a structure to make that vision a reality. That structure is your local municipal government, the Town of Cary.
Overview of Governmental Responsibilities
Four distinct governmental entities serve Cary citizens – the Town of Cary, Wake County or Chatham County depending on which side of the county line you reside, the State of North Carolina, and the United States government. Each provides, oversees, regulates, and/or enforces a number of shared as well as unique elements, services, and activities affecting Cary citizens.
Closest to Cary citizens is the Town of Cary municipal government, charged with providing the broad range of services that touch most citizens every day and are detailed in this Guide. Cary uses a council-manager form of government to provide vital services including but not limited to police and fire protection, solid waste and recycling collection, parks, recreation and athletic activities, cultural arts, water and sewer utilities, and building inspections.
Cary citizens are also served by either Wake County or Chatham County government, which under State law uniquely oversees such things as public, mental, and environmental health as well as social services. Each county government is headed by elected board of commissioners, and county government also includes the board of elections as well as the elected county sheriff and elected register of deeds. In our area, responsibilities for K-12 public schools also fall to county government. While an elected county board of education develops, oversees, and implements school policies, practices, and hiring decisions, it is the county board of commissioners that approves school funding requests since boards of education have no taxing authority in North Carolina.
State government, headed by the Governor, the General Assembly, and the North Carolina Supreme Court, handles most everything related to motor vehicles including titles and tags, major roadway construction and maintenance, and driver licensing. Public colleges and universities as well as alcoholic beverage control, consumer protection, and insurance and utilities regulation also fall to the state.
Federal government includes the President, Congress, and the federal court system. Under the auspices of the federal government, citizens will find Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, postal service, air and rail service regulation, immigration, and more.
Often, service provision overlaps two or more of these government entities depending on the very specific nature of that service and the laws of a particular state. For example, all four governmental entities collect taxes, but these taxes come from different sources and are used to support different services. It is the state and county governments – not the Town of Cary – that share responsibility for courts, schools, and elections. On the other hand, it is the Town that provides most emergency services such as police and fire, but we can get assistance from the county, state, and federal governments when necessary.
Town of Cary Government
Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1871, the Town of Cary is one of more than 548 municipal corporations in the State of North Carolina. Governed by a council-manager form of administration as provided for in the North Carolina General Statutes, the powers and authority of the municipal government are spelled out in state law, and Cary may do no more than is authorized by that body of law.
Under its council-manager form of administration, the citizens of Cary elect a seven-member Town Council, including the mayor. Four of the seven council members are district representatives chosen by voters within each geographic district. Two council members and the mayor are at-large representatives elected town-wide. Cary elections are held in odd-numbered years. The council members’ four-year terms are staggered so that voters fill three or four of the seats every two years.
The elected council creates a vision for the community by setting the policies, goals, and direction of the government including adopting necessary laws. The council also appoints three staff members: the town attorney, the town clerk, and the town manager.
As the chief executive officer for the government, the town manager implements council’s policies and oversees all government operations. The manager advises the council on all issues, proposes the annual budget, and coordinates the work of all municipal staff not appointed by the council. Cary’s professional staff develops and implements projects, programs, and services in support of council’s goals and is responsible for the organization’s day-to-day operations. In 2010, this translated into needing about 1,150 staff to serve in more than 340 unique positions.
Location
Cary Town Hall and most of the administrative offices are located in the heart of downtown Cary—the 300 block of North Academy Street between Chatham Street and Chapel Hill Road. The physical address is 316 N. Academy Street, Cary, NC 27513. There you’ll find Administration, Engineering, Finance, Inspections and Permits, Human Resources, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, Planning, Police, and Technology Services as well as the Page-Walker Arts and History Center and the Herbert C. Young Community Center. Fire administration is housed one block south of Town Hall in the 100 block of North Academy Street, and most Public Works and Utilities operations are conducted out of the William M. Garmon Operations Center at 400 James Jackson Avenue, which is about two miles west of Town Hall.
Town Departments
Administration includes the town manager’s office, budget, and public information. The town manager is responsible for implementing the policies set forth by the Town Council and exercises management responsibility over all operational departments. Through management of the operational departments, the town manager’s office ensures the advancement of the philosophies and policies of the Town Council and that all local, state and federal laws and regulations are met. Budget directs and manages the planning, development, and execution of the annual operating budget, annual capital improvements budget, and long-range capital improvements plan. Public information manages all aspects of communications including developing and executing the Town’s annual Comprehensive Communications Plan and overseeing Cary TV 11, BUD, and all Web site content.
Telephone: (919) 469-4007
Engineering provides leadership for controlled infrastructure development within the Town of Cary and is responsible for overseeing the planning, design, construction, and inspection of public capital improvements projects including street improvements, right-of-way acquisitions, stormwater and utility system improvements, utility plant expansions, and traffic engineering. Engineering and Planning collaborate on thoroughfare planning. Engineering also enforces stormwater management ordinances and other engineering-related laws and regulations.
Telephone: (919) 469-4030
Finance administers the financial affairs of the Town including utility billing and collection, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, risk management, purchasing, cash management, accounting, and debt administration. This department provides financial customer service to utility customers, taxpayers, other departments, employees, and vendors, and the department produces the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report which includes general information about the Town, financial statements, the independent auditor’s report, and statistical information. Thanks to prudent financial decision-making and action by the entire team of council and staff, the Town of Cary’s general obligation bonds are rated AAA, the best possible rating for a local government!
Telephone: (919) 469-4380
Fire protects the community from the effects of disaster and emergencies by providing fire suppression, first responder emergency medical and technical rescue services. Fire code inspection/enforcement and fire safety public education is provided by the Risk Management Group within the department. Cary Fire Department is a member of the regional Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team and offers disaster training to the citizens of Cary through Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes. Mutual aid is provided to surrounding fire departments when requested. The department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.
Telephone: (919) 469-4056
Human Resources recruits, develops, and promotes model personnel and employee safety programs and practices designed to attract, develop, and retain a well-qualified and diverse work force. Responsibilities include advising management on recruitment and hiring, classification and pay, employee relations, performance reviews, equal employment opportunities, employee training and development, benefits administration, and employee safety.
Telephone: (919) 469-4070
Inspections and Permits is responsible for enforcing the North Carolina Building Code through building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing code inspections. The department is also responsible for street addressing and enforces minimum housing standards, reviews construction plans, collects fees, and issues permits for new construction and renovations.
Telephone: (919) 469-4340
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) plans and provides a variety of enjoyable and cost-effective recreation, sports, environmental, historical, and cultural arts programs and services. Also nationally accredited, PRCR acquires, develops, beautifies, conserves, and maintains a system of parks, greenways, and recreation facilities to assure quality leisure opportunities for all Cary residents.
Telephone: (919) 469-4061
Planning develops and implements comprehensive growth and land use plans, small area, district and corridor plans, open space and historic resources plans, affordable housing plans and programs, and downtown redevelopment. Staff also coordinates intergovernmental and regional planning and agreements. This department is responsible for assembling demographic data, maintaining and enforcing zoning ordinances, processing sign permits, preparing maps, and assisting planning boards and commissions. Transportation planning for roadways, pedestrians, and bicyclists is led by this department as well as managing C-Tran, the Town’s transit system. Planning also handles annexations and rezonings and reviews all development plans.
Telephone: (919) 469-4082
Police protects the life and property of the citizens of Cary through education, prevention, and enforcement efforts that include youth services, school resource officers, neighborhood watch programs, animal control, and the Citizens Police Academy. As one of the nation’s most progressive law enforcement agencies, the department has been nationally accredited since 1992 through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Cary is one of over 600 police departments across the country to receive this prestigious accreditation.
Telephone: (919) 469-4012
Public Works and Utilities handles a broad range of responsibilities for the Town’s infrastructure including long-range utility planning, water conservation, beautification, reclaimed water, water and wastewater treatment and services, maintenance of streets, parks, Town-owned buildings and grounds, traffic signals, solid waste removal for residential customers, residential recycling pickup, residential yard waste collection, and fleet maintenance for all Town vehicles and equipment. In addition, the department provides an adequate and safe water supply to citizens of the towns of Cary, Apex, and Morrisville, the Wake County portion of the Research Triangle Park, and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Processing more than 4.4 billion gallons of wastewater each year, it also manages wastewater services for Morrisville and the Wake County portion of the Research Triangle Park.
Telephone: (919) 469-4090
Technology Services supports the Town government’s council and staff in the management and use of information technology to provide better and more cost-effective services to the citizens of Cary.
Telephone: (919) 460-4900
The Town Clerk gives notice of council meetings, prepares the council agenda and records council proceedings, serves as custodian of all permanent Town records, keeps the Town seal, attests all Town documents, updates the Town’s Code of Ordinances, manages the Town Council volunteer boards and commissions, maintains Hillcrest Cemetery records, and provides support services to the Town Council.
Telephone: (919) 469-4011
The Town Attorney is the full-time legal advisor for Town Council and staff.
Telephone: (919) 469-4008
Budget Process
Everything that everyone does as part of or on behalf of the Town of Cary has its origins and justifications in the annual budget, the official plan that lays out how the organization will meet the vision for Cary. In the budget, the Town Council articulates its vision, which drives the operation of the organization by guiding Town staff in their creation and maintenance of specific programs, projects, and activities.
The Town of Cary prides itself on using the most progressive, comprehensive, and effective practices in developing and implementing the annual budget. A yearlong process tied directly to the Town Council’s priorities, Cary’s budget development begins with each department’s submitting prioritized budget requests to the budget office. After reviewing the initial budget requests, the town manager, assistant manager and budget staff meet with departments to thoroughly examine all requests. Emphasis is placed on achieving Council’s goals by maintaining a strong financial position and high levels of service, identifying opportunities for further efficiencies in the organization, reducing costs, and ensuring that we plan for future needs. Streamlined budget narratives submitted by the departments focus on program objectives and performance measures, with quantitative and qualitative performance indicators included to measure progress toward program objectives. After deliberations by the panel, public input from our citizens, work sessions with Council, and a formal public hearing, the Town Council adopts the budget each year on or before June 30th as required by state law. Cary’s budget includes the Annual Operating Budget and the Annual Capital Improvements Budget as well as a 10-year Capital Improvements Plan.
The work of every staff member, every contractor, and every consultant is directly tied to Town Council’s vision and goals. To illustrate, let’s take a look at one of the council’s goals to see how it all fits together.
Ensure that roads, water and wastewater facilities, parks, and other infrastructure exists for the existing citizens and for the future needs identified in the Comprehensive Plan.
To support this goal, the organization hires:
- Scientists and engineers to make sure that the roads, water system, and wastewater systems are designed to meet local, state, and federal environmental standards;
- Construction workers to build the roads and lay the lines and meters for the water and wastewater systems;Inspectors to ensure that roads are built to Town standards;
- Fleet maintenance workers to keep the inspectors’ trucks in good working order;
- Purchasing agents to acquire the trucks that the inspectors drive, the tools that the maintenance workers use, the shovels and heavy equipment that the construction workers need, and the office, lab, and safety equipment and supplies for the scientists and the engineers;
- Buildings and grounds crews to maintain the buildings where the purchasing agents, engineers, scientists, and fleet maintenance workers work.
And so it goes until every staff member, volunteer, consultant and contractor is accounted for. From stocking inventory to designing and constructing a new park, everything we do can be tied to Town Council’s vision for Cary.
Please take time to review the current year's budget online at www.townofcary.org.