CARY 2027
LOOKING BACK. STEPPING FORWARD.
A Higher Standard for Cary
A $579.6 MILLION MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
$579.6 MILLION
FY2027 Total Budget
$452.2 MILLION
Operations
$127.4 MILLION
Capital Projects
& YET THE PEOPLE OF CARY SAW...
36.75¢ Property-Tax Rate increase
per $100 assessed value
The Town states that the FY2027 property-tax rate increased by 2.75 cents
Solid-waste fee increased
to $28 per month.
Cary states that the utility base-rate increase amounts to approximately $3.08 per month for a typical home.
What Does Cary's Tax History Mean for Homeowners?
Cary Property Taxes more than doubled
Illustrative $400,000 home bought in 2015 | Town-only taxes & selected fees, FY2016-2027
Based on the Town of Cary’s own budget projections, salary growth of 30% is an illustrative assumption. Excludes Wake County taxes and other household expenses. Figures are nominal and not adjusted for inflation.
Source: Town of Cary FY2027 Budget | Cary FY2027 Budget Adoption Announcement
Home Value: Published Cary Revaluation Example
2016
$316,000
2017
$328,640
2021
$415,951
2025
$647,748
Imagine you purchased the median priced Cary single-family home for $316,000 in 2016. Using the Town's published property revaluation figures, historical tax rates, and municipal fees, that home's estimated taxable value would have increased to approximately $648,000 by 2025 — an increase of 105%. Over that same period, the homeowner's annual Town property-tax bill would have risen from approximately
$1,169 in 2016 to $2,380 in 2027 — an increase of 104%
When water, sewer, sanitation, and selected municipal fees are included, the homeowner's estimated annual costs climb from $2,274 to $3,881 — an increase of 71%. That's an additional $1,606 every year, or approximately $134 per month, paid to Town government.
Blaming rising property values and countywide revaluations misses the point. Wake County determines property assessments, but Cary's Mayor and Council set the municipal tax rate and approve the fees homeowners pay for essential services.
For two decades, the combined cost of property taxes and essential municipal services has increased year after year. But the most dramatic increases have come recently. Between 2024 and 2026 alone, Cary's own figures show the annual tax-and-fee burden for a representative homeowner jumped more than 31%—approximately 24% even after adjusting for inflation. In 2025 alone, that burden increased nearly 25%.
These increases weren't simply unavoidable consequences of rising property values. Cary's elected leaders had the authority to offset the revaluation through lower tax rates. Instead, homeowners saw substantially higher bills, followed by additional tax and fee increases.
The real measure of Cary's tax burden isn't the rate government advertises.
It's the dollars homeowners actually pay.
WHEN TAXES GROW FASTER THAN PAYCHECKS
Now consider that same homeowner earning $70,000 annually in 2016. Assuming their salary increased 30% through 2027, their annual earnings would reach approximately $91,000.
While their income increased 30%, their Town property taxes increased 104%, and their combined Town taxes and selected fees increased 71%.
In other words, municipal costs grew more than twice as fast as their paycheck, steadily consuming a larger share of household income.
For families already facing higher grocery bills, insurance premiums, and everyday living expenses, this growing burden matters.
Cary residents deserve a local government that measures fiscal responsibility not by the tax rate it announces, but by what taxpayers can actually afford.
Methodology: Illustrative home assessed at $316,000 in FY2016, with subsequent taxable values adjusted using Cary's published representative revaluation history. Tax calculations use historical Town property-tax rates and selected municipal charges, including water, sewer, sanitation, and one vehicle license. FY2027 figures are estimates based on adopted rates and the unchanged 2025 assessment. Salary growth of 30% is an illustrative assumption. Excludes Wake County taxes and other household expenses. Figures are nominal and not adjusted for inflation.
Source: Town of Cary FY2027 Budget | Cary FY2027 Budget Adoption Announcement
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH MUNICIPAL FINANCES
Scott's prior municipal service involved annual budgets, General Fund finances, staffing, capital projects, transportation, public safety, parks and the tax implications of Town expenditures.
Municipal budgets are not abstract to Scott. He actually has previous elected experience with direct responsibility for municipal finances including writing budgets, prioritizing expenditures, and balancing delivering excellent services to a town without raising taxes or fees.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY STARTS AT THE TOP
Cary uses a council-manager form of government. Professional management administers daily Town operations while the elected
Council adopts budgets, establishes policy and performs governing oversight. The 2026 investigation by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor documented significant concerns involving Cary's purchasing cards, expenditures, and financial oversight.
828
Town VISA cards
62%+
of Town employees had cards
60,000+
card transactions in 2024–2025
$24.2 MILLION
in transactions
$100,000+
in purchases with missing or inadequate receipts
WHAT THE STATE AUDITOR FOUND
These figures are directly reported by the Office of the State Auditor.
DIG DEEPER
WHAT HAPPENED TO CARY'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS?
-
$99.8 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SPENDING
Town expenditures increased 60% from FY2021 to FY2025, while revenues grew 41%. The State Auditor calculated operating deficits of $8.5 million in FY2023 and $27.2 million in FY2024.
-
$24.2 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT CREDIT-CARD PURCHASES
More than 60,000 transactions in two years, with 828 Town-issued VISA cards—provided to 62% of employees, compared with a 16% average among nine other major North Carolina municipalities.
-
$2.2 MILLION IN FOOD, BEVERAGES, AND TRAVEL
Two years of purchasing-card charges, including spending auditors questioned. More than $100,000 in purchases lacked receipts or adequate itemization.
-
MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN PROPERTY PURCHASES
Former Town Manager acquired property with only some of the council's approval.
-
$381,264 ANNUAL TOWN MANAGER SALARY
Stegall's reported 2025 salary, following his appointment at $210,000 in 2016. The Town also spent at least $151,000 on his book, Top of the Arc, including $65,653 for a ghostwriter and $36,942.20 paid to buy copies. Thousands of these books remain in Town inventory and are effectively worthless.
-
$121,314 FOR RETREAT VIDEOS
Video production for a Wilmington retreat, including a $34,975 documentary about a staff dance performance.
-
$108,714 FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT MAILERS
Taxpayer-funded notices featuring councilmembers' names and photographs, explaining district and election changes.
-
$37,301 FOR A COUNCILMEMBER'S GRADUATE TUITION
Paid with Town funds before the Councilmember subsequently reimbursed the Town after media coverage and public outcry.
-
TAXPAYER-FUNDED COMPENSATION AND PERKS
Annual vehicle allowances of $10,950 for the Mayor and $9,626 for councilmembers, plus available annual technology allowances of $2,460.
-
THE EXPENSES THAT MADE HEADLINES
$1,600 for 10 pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses for councilmembers; $48 for a glass of wine and $120 each for two ribeye steaks at a dinner; $4,164 for a Town Council and staff steakhouse dinner at Rey's Restaurant in Cary; $3,419 for the former Town Manager's penthouse hotel stay; and $733 for a 12-mile executive-van ride for the mayor and councilmembers to a holiday party.
In June 2026, the Town Council Also Approved an 8% Property Tax Rate Increase
Source: North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, July 16, 2026; The News & Observer; INDY Week; Town of Cary financial and budget records., NC State Auditor Investigative Report | NC State Auditor Cary Findings Summary
CARY SHOULD BE SETTING THE STANDARD FOR PUBLIC SAFTEY
NOT FALLING BEHIND ITS NEIGHBORS
POLICE STAFFING
WHEN SOMEONE CALLS FOR HELP, TIME MATTERS.
The SBI's 2024 law-enforcement personnel table reports for Cary:
165 male sworn officers
33 female sworn officers
198 total sworn offifers
The SBI reports a sworn rate of approximately 1.1 officers per 1,000 residents for the population used in that report.
2024 SWORN OFFICERS PER 1,000 RESIDENTS
Cary had the lowest sworn staffing ratio among these six nearby municipalities.
NC SBI (2024). Employed sworn personnel as of October 31, 2024; population per SBI.
Source: NC SBI - 2024 Law Enforcement Personnel by Agency
Cary has long enjoyed a reputation as one of America's safest communities. But a reputation is not a substitute for results.
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Cary had just 1.1 sworn police officers per 1,000 residents in 2024—fewer per capita than Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Wake Forest, and Fuquay-Varina.
.png)
CARY: CHANGE IN REPORTED CRIMES, 2020-2024
Incident counts increased over this period: figures are not adjusted for population growth
NC SBI (2024). Rates calculated from reported index crimes and SBI agency populations.
Source: NC SBI - 2024 Index Offenses by Agency in County
Meanwhile, reported index crimes increased 42% between 2020 and 2024, including a 51% increase in larcenies and a 75% increase in motor vehicle thefts. Cary's reported crime rate is now higher than those of Apex, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina.
Cary crime: the increase is not just population growth
Reported crime changes, 2020-2024 | Total incidents vs. per-resident rates
Population: 174,787 (2020 census base) > 187,832 (July 2024 estimate), +7.5%
North Carolina SBI, 2020 and 2024 reporting. These are changes in incident counts, not population-adjusted rates. Total index offenses +42%, property crimes +44%, larcenies +51%, vehicle thefts +75%.
Source: NC SBI - 2024 Index Offenses by Agency in County
Cary's own budget documents have also reported emergency police call-processing times measured in minutes, raising important questions about dispatch performance and the time residents wait for help.
Our police officers and emergency dispatchers deserve the staffing, equipment, training, and support necessary to do their jobs effectively. Residents deserve transparent performance measurements and a government that treats public safety as its first responsibility.
We cannot take Cary's safety for granted.
PARKS ARE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TOO
Cary's parks, greenways, recreation facilities and cultural amenities are major public assets.
They require land acquisition, capital investment, maintenance, staffing and long-term planning.
Scott's prior municipal experience includes parks advisory service,
Council liaison responsibilities, long-range planning and specific capital projects.
PARKS ADVISORY SERVICE
ELECTED TO
TOWN COUNCIL
COUNCIL LIAISON TO PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL RESOURCES
PARKS + GREENWAY MASTER PLANNING
CAPITAL PROJECTS
INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORTATION
MAINTAIN WHAT EXISTS. PLAN FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.
Cary maintains extensive systems of streets, sidewalks, utilities, parks, greenways, public-safety facilities and other capital assets.
Capital planning should account for initial construction costs as well as future maintenance.
Scott's previous municipal record includes budget decisions and a transportation-bond initiative focused on the Apex Peakway, road maintenance and potential intersection improvements.
