Back to the basics of running a town
Public safety, planning, parks and public works come first. The money lost to waste could have paid for them, or for lower taxes.
Cary, like most towns in North Carolina, provides its citizens and taxpayers with the basic functions you’d expect: Public Safety, Planning, Parks and Rec and Public Works. Cary also runs the water and sewer utilities for Cary, Apex, Morrisville, RDU Airport and portions of RTP. Towns will often add to the list of expected services as opportunities arise and taxpayers support it.
We pay for all these services with property taxes, borrowing, utility customer fees, State and Federal funding and a host of other taxes and fees. The Town Council ultimately decides how much we are going to spend and how those expenses will be paid for.
Most taxpayers understand paying for the basics and even understand paying more for increased service levels and higher quality results. Recently, the Town’s leadership has lost track of its fundamental financial responsibilities and oversight of its core mission.
These financial miscues could have easily funded public safety improvements, staff raises, sped up public works projects or been returned to the taxpayer in the form of lower taxes. Aside from the resignation of their former Town Manager, the Town has not fired any of the staff involved in the fraud, nor has any Councilmember offered to apologize and resign.
We need leadership that will protect its citizens and fight on their behalf for better results.