Cary residents push back on proposed property tax increase
A Cary home valued at $649,000 would cost about $244 more a year under the town’s proposed tax hike, before Wake County’s own increase.
Families in Cary pushed back Thursday against an interim budget proposal that would raise the town’s property tax rate by 3.75 cents per $100 of assessed value, saying the timing was especially hard on households already squeezed by higher food, gas, housing and utility costs. For a home valued at about $649,000, the change would add roughly $244 a year to the tax bill.
Interim Town Manager Russ Overton said the added revenue would help cover public safety needs, including 21 police officers, six 911 operators and six firefighters. That argument put the town’s budget fight squarely in the middle of Cary’s growth pressures, as officials weigh whether current staffing and service levels can keep pace with demand.
The debate also landed in the broader affordability crunch across Wake County. Residents pointed to the county’s recommended 2-cent increase, which would add about $125 more for the same homeowner. Combined, the town and county moves could leave some Cary homeowners facing a much larger bill than either increase suggests on its own.
Opponents said any new tax burden should come with deeper spending cuts or a reconsideration of priorities. Several residents described the increase as especially punishing for seniors and families living on fixed or tight budgets, warning that people who have spent their lives paying for a home now fear they could lose it if taxes keep rising.
Supporters of the draft budget argued that Cary’s parks, downtown and public safety services justify continued investment and that the town still compares favorably with much of the county on affordability. The draft plan also could include new garbage and utility fees, adding another layer to the question of what it costs to live in Cary and what residents receive in return.
What emerged from the hearing was more than a dispute over 3.75 cents. It was a test of how Cary, one of the Triangle’s fastest-growing towns, balances public services, growth, and the households now deciding whether the value of those services is worth the price.
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