In 2003 our
most important challenge was to put Cary’s financial house
back on a solid and sustainable footing. During my first term as
Mayor we have restored Cary’s long term fiscal health, maintained
our AAA bond rating, and kept our property tax rate low, all while
refocusing resources on our highest priorities. Looking to the future
we must have a sustained commitment to long-term fiscal discipline.
In 2009, Cary will have to address debt issues incurred earlier
in this decade. As mayor, I am committed to meeting this financial
challenge by setting real spending priorities, making key infrastructure
investments, and continuing to build our economy and tax base. Economic Development A strong economy
is the engine that keeps our community vibrant and growing. In 2003
the Town of Cary had no economic development strategy. Under my
leadership, we went to work to develop and adopt Cary’s first
comprehensive Economic Development Plan. As part of this plan, we
renewed our partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and together
hired Cary’s first Economic Development Director to coordinate
our strategy with the business community and with state and county
initiatives and resources. Our hard work is paying off with the
recruitment of new businesses, increased investments in our community
and higher wage jobs for our citizens. Public Safety This past year
Cary was again honored as one of the safest places to live in America.
Nevertheless, we know that the daily challenges facing our law enforcement
officers and first responders require a sustained commitment. We
have added officers and operational capability in recent years,
and I am committed to insuring our police force, fire fighters and
emergency services personnel have the resources they need to keep
our streets and neighborhoods safe, protect property and respond
to any contingency. As your mayor I will continue to make the safety
of Cary’s families and seniors a top priority.
Managing growth
is a challenge in a community like Cary that is vibrant, attractive
and has a strong economy. Sustainable growth is fundamental to providing
the variety and quality of services Cary citizens and families have
come to expect. We have invested in roads and transportation, worked
to site more schools in Cary, and fulfilled the pledge I made in
2003 to move forward with our new regional wastewater treatment
facility. Over the past four years our Council has adopted policies
to encourage mixed use development and other smart growth strategies
to allow citizens to live closer to where they work and shop. I
pledge to continue to balance Cary’s growth with our ability
to provide the highest quality of life for Cary citizens and families.
During the past four years we have been aggressively working to address our road and transportation needs. Commuters are benefiting from the recent completion of several major projects including the widening of Highway 55, US 64/1, Davis Drive, and major intersection improvements like Walnut Street and Tryon Road. We are continuing to move forward with a number of major projects including the widening of Chapel Hill Road, Kildaire Farm Road and the final Cary section of Tryon Road; as well as, completion of our traffic synchronization project. I am committed to sustaining this effort as evidenced by the current 2006-2007 budget which doubled our capital spending on both road and park projects. The completion
of I-540 remains our most important regional project. We are committed
to doing all in our power to move forward with the I-540 Western
Wake Expressway and Southern Loop. This major regional project is
crucial to addressing our long-term transit needs in Cary and in
the Triangle. Schools Cary’s
children benefit from the opportunity to learn in one of the nation’s
top rated public school systems. I have worked in partnership with
the School Board and the private sector to site more schools in
Cary to better serve the needs of our growing community. Cary’s
active role includes providing land, utilities, and roads to facilitate
the building of more new schools to serve our children. I will continue
to work with school leaders and the county commission to see that
our students have the opportunity to get out of trailers and into
classrooms equipped for the 21st century. Quality of Life As Mayor, I
have made the enhancement of Cary’s quality of life a top
priority. Over the past four years we have added the SAS Soccer
Park to our Town’s award winning facilities, and recruited
Cary’s first professional sports team, the Carolina Railhawks
men’s soccer team. We have substantially increased our parks
capital spending to build new recreational facilities and refurbish
existing parks. The United States Tennis Association rated Cary
as one of the top five municipal facilities in the nation, and USA
Baseball has made Cary its home. The Koka Booth Amphitheater continues
to attract world-class entertainers to Cary in addition to hosting
a variety of music festivals and other community events. Our outstanding
facilities also include a new regional library. I will continue
to work to expand cultural and recreational opportunities for citizens
of every age to enjoy. Partnerships for the Future In 2003 Cary’s leadership was isolated from our neighboring communities. Over the past four years we have renewed our regional partnerships, entered into a new era of cooperation and successfully resolved difficult issues with our neighbors. These cooperative agreements have allowed Cary to better plan for the future, better manage growth, and better serve our citizens. We are also partnering with the private sector to provide new and enhanced facilities and opportunities for our citizens. The accelerated revitalization of Downtown Cary will continue to build on the public-private partnerships we have forged over the past four years. Moving forward, our region needs the leadership the Town of Cary can provide and I am committed to that goal. |
