I’m thankful I have a lot of patience – it’s a result of having six children I’m sure. I don’t know I could have made it through this year’s budget process if I didn’t. ;-) Council needed a total of six – yes six – worksessions (including a couple at 7:00 in the morning) to comb through FY2009’s proposed budget and make adjustments/cuts that at least a majority of council could agree upon. Council “officially” approved the budget at Thursday night’s council meeting.
Some of the highlights of the FY 2009 adopted budget are:
A revenue neutral tax rate of 33 cents – the LOWEST tax rate of any municipality in Wake County.
$15 million for Cary Elementary renovations and conversion to the Cary Community Arts Center.
$8 million for Cary Parkway road improvements (previously only half was funded).
4.5% operating budget increase – whittled down from staff recommended 7.8% ($4 million decrease).
$30 million worth of Downtown projects postponed including the Harrison Ave. Extension, Hwy 54 widening from Maynard to Maynard, and the Walker Street extension/tunnel.
One council member, who shall remain nameless, believes Cary is spending too much on downtown at one time – even after council removed over $30 million worth of capital improvement projects downtown from the FY2009 budget in an effort to trim the fat. Yours truly believes downtown is finally getting its fair share. For years Cary’s capital improvements and investments have focused on our new growth areas. In other words, the nice and new always went to the nice and new. How much exactly? Over the last ten years, Cary has spent $310 million on parks, recreation, or transportation projects throughout the town. Only $12 million of that amount was spent downtown. The folks who have dealt with the effects and impact of growth longer than anyone else are the ones who have benefited the least from it.
For years we have seen increased neighborhood decay, businesses pack up shop and leave, and crime rates steadily increase downtown. Continuing to ignore these issues would only lead to more of the same. A town with an unhealthy...
On June 23, 2008, the Town of Cary held a volunteer appreciation picnic for members of the Town’s boards and commissions (and their families) at Bond Park. It was a very nice event, with the Town Council doing most of the work, including cooking and serving food (along with, as always, much support from several Town Staff members).
The evening started pleasantly enough for my family and me; we arrived and chatted with Town Council and Staff members, then headed off to the lake for a pedal boat ride and feeding the resident ducks. We got back to the picnic shelter just as the hamburgers and hot dogs (cooked by Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilman Portman) were coming off the grill. We sat down and enjoyed the food and company.
A few minutes later, I heard someone asking for everyone’s attention. I turned around and saw none other than CP Admin Don Hyatt. He announced that two young boys were lost in the park, Cary Police had arrived and they were looking for volunteers to form a search party.
Many people immediately got up and gathered to receive search instructions and descriptions of the lost boys. I gobbled down my food and I and my two sons joined the search party (my wife, a CAP team member, joined the search shortly thereafter). We were instructed by the police to break into groups of 5 and fan out across the park, making sure that we checked gathering places, trails, in the woods, in culverts and so on. We made sure that each group had at least one cell phone. We were instructed to call 911 if we found the boys.
So off we all went, through the woods, on the trails, to the ball fields, looking in cars and buildings, looking in culverts and so on. Several police, including a K-9 unit, cruisers and bicycles combed the park. I understand that Mr. Hyatt hiked the entire loop around BondLake.
After about 40 minutes of searching, word came that the boys had been found. The word spread to the various groups by cell phone. We headed back to the picnic shelter and learned that the boys had actually left the park and were found at the Blockbuster store some distance from the park, but they were safe.
The point of this narrative is to share my observation of how many people – including several CPers – immediately dropped what they were doing to help out. The search party consisted of dozens of people, including board/commission members and their families, Town Staff and at least one Town Council member. People who knew each other and people who didn’t know each other immediately formed teams to help.
Regular CPers who joined the search included d4vendel (and his wife), dhyatt, Don and Brent (and his wife and sons) – my apologies if I left anyone out. We were just a few of the many folks who joined in. Kudos to all those who helped, especially the Cary PD.
Perhaps one moral of this story is that if you need help at Bond Park, it sure is nice to have a shelter house full of community-minded people with a natural propensity to volunteer. And that includes the CP “peanut gallery”!
Lining Up - We drove right out on the tarmac to meet Air Force One
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All Lined Up - Waiting for President Bush to exit Air Force One
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Air Force One
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Not Just Another Limo Driver
On Friday, June 20th, 2008 President George W. Bush visited North Carolina for a fundraiser for Charlotte Mayor, and candidate for North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. I had the honor and privilege of serving as a driver in President Bush's motorcade. I drove the staff support vehicle - fifth in line to the President's limousine.
When I first got the call offering me this opportunity, I thought it was a joke. I always assumed they had people for this. Well, as it turns out, the White House sometimes allows individuals associated with the organization or candidate the President is coming into town to visit the opportunity to participate in the motorcade as a "thank you".
I arrived at the airport, and after going through security checks and briefings from Secret Service we were tasked with organizing vehicle position so that once Air Force One landed, we could orderly and quickly fall in line behind the President's limousine. I must admit I became a little nervous watching secret service members - especially those on the tactical team - readying their weapons in preparation for the worst. The amount of firepower these folks have at their disposal is truly amazing however, and I am confident that anyone who attempted to cause us harm would quickly have a new home address....six feet underground.
Once the President was in his limousine, our motorcade began, and we didn't stop moving until we reached our destination in Raleigh. It was great to see all the folks who turned out to watch the President drive by, hoping for that slim chance to catch a glimpse of the man, or to just snap a photograph. Hundreds of folks cheered and waved American Flags, held up signs of support, and we even saw a few "Congratulations Jenna and Harry!" signs. Too cute.
Once we left the fundraiser, our motorcade did make an unscheduled stop. The President decided he wanted to visit with some of the folks who had gathered on the side of the road. Talk about excitement! You never saw so many reporters run so fast in your life! (they were in the rear of the motorcade LOL....) Secret Service immediately went into action and secured the area so Bush could spend a few minutes with these folks safely. It was a sight to see. Can you imagine the President of the United States not only driving through your neighborhood, but also stopping to say "hello"? How cool is that?!
After we arrived back at the airport, the President climbed the stairs back into Air Force One, turned and waved goodbye before stepping inside, and he was off.
This was one of the most exciting experiences of my life - something I will remember forever. Many Thanks to the McCrory campaign for giving me this incredible opportunity.
To see more pictures, please visit my facebook page.
The Golden Goose named Cary appears to be safe for at least another year as Town Council seems poised to hold the line on a revenue neutral + inflation adjustment property tax rate of $0.33. This morning's (6/24/08) budget work session resulted in the removal of a line item funding the start of the Walker St extension & tunnel work as well as committing to repaving much of Cary Pkwy by the end of next year. The Walker St tunnel capital project is likely to cost a minimum of $15M and probably more. After receiving some guidance from Town Staff, Council decided starting work on a project of that magnitude could wait a little while longer.
In doing her usual yeoman's work looking out for District 'A', Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson wanted assurances that needed road work west of Rt 55 would be completed in a timely manner and that parks and greenways planned for that area would be be completed as funds became available. District 'B' rep Don Frantz wanted to make sure downtown got the attention that has been promised for the last seven years and Mayor Weinbrecht wanted to make sure Cary wound up with a little bit of a budget cushion. Mayor Pro Tem Julie Robison (who has been much more concise of late :-) ) also seemed reassured that the budget would allow for a little flexibility down the road. At-Large representative Erv Portman still has concerns over a 7.8% proposed increase in the operating budget and town staff has agreed to take another look. District 'C' Councilman Jack Smith reitereted his call for a true revenue neutral rate of $0.316 and indicated he too would like to see another pass at the operating budget. The final vote on Cary's Fy2009 budget takes place Thursday night (6/26/08).
Cary Property Taxes to Rise? ...or Not? (scroll down to read Mayor's Journal comments on the see-saw tax rate)
In what can only be described as a quasi political free for all at today's (6/20/08) early morning budget work session, Cary Town Council reversed themselves from Tuesday's vote and instead voted 5-2 to try and keep the tax rate at $0.33 - unless it changes again at a TBD emergency budget work session prior to the 6/26/08 Town Council meeting. Councilman Erv Portman seems dead set against spending money on downtown revitalization though he had no problem voting on Tuesday for the higher $0.37 rate. It seems the rate isn't the problem, only whether or not the money can be spent on things he approves of. CP notes that downtown revitalization has been "in the works" since 2001 but outside of a new town hall and the private efforts of Frantz Automotive, there hasn't been much to show for it. We say either do it or stop talking about it.
The fundamental question seems to be how to move forward in FY '09 on some long standing initiatives, especially downtown revitalization, aquatics, and repurposing of old Cary Elementary, without acquiring additional debt, without raises taxes, and while still keeping up with core infrastructure. It's a good question becuase guess what? WE CAN'T! There is no free lunch and something has to give. CP says avoid the mistakes every other city makes and get downtown revitalization going now - before it collapses.
Mayor Weinbrecht and Mayor Pro Tem Robison held their ground on calling for the higher $0.37 rate and may now find themselves in the position of having to vote against a budget because the taxes aren't high enough. CP doubts this will happen and expects to see the issue resolved prior to next weeks Council meeting.
