Interim Cary Town Manager Russ Overton has rolled out a proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that clocks in at roughly $573.5 million and leans hard into public safety, fresh tax pressure, and higher monthly fees. The plan, unveiled this week, is now headed to public hearings at Town Council meetings on May 28 and June 11 at 6:30 p.m., with council required to lock in a final version before the new fiscal year starts on July 1. Town leaders say the package is built not just to fund services, but to tighten financial controls after recent scrutiny of past spending.
Big-ticket total and public-safety surge
According to The News & Observer, Overton’s recommended budget totals about $573.5 million and adds 21 new police officer positions. The paper reports that public-safety spending would jump by roughly 44 percent under the proposal, which town officials say is a key driver behind the tax increase. If approved, it would mark the first time in about a decade that Cary has budgeted for new police staffing.
Operations, capital projects and tighter controls
As reported by WRAL, the plan steers about $445.9 million toward operations and another $127.6 million into capital projects that keep parks, streets and utilities in working order. Overton said the proposal is designed to “ensure that our financial practices, internal controls, and Council decision-making processes meet the highest standards of transparency and responsibility.” To back that up, the draft includes two new positions in the finance department, a 4 percent increase to base water and sewer rates, and a $2-per-month bump in residential trash and recycling fees.
What the hike means for homeowners
Per The News & Observer, the town’s property-tax rate would climb by 3.75 cents, landing at 37.75 cents per $100 of assessed value. Using Cary’s median assessed home value of about $649,000, the paper notes that the town portion of a typical homeowner’s tax bill would rise by roughly $244 under the proposal. Separate Wake County budget talks could push bills higher still, so many households may feel a steeper combined hit if both town and county plans advance.
Budget backdrop and the Stegall review
The spending plan arrives while Cary is still working through questions about prior financial management. The Town of Cary’s “Get the Facts” page states that the State Auditor has reviewed town records, that the Wake County district attorney discussed concerns with the auditor and requested that the State Bureau of Investigation open a probe, and that former Town Manager Sean Stegall resigned in December. Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton was then named interim manager. Town officials say the added finance staff and policy changes built into the new budget are intended to strengthen oversight while those reviews remain underway.
What happens next
Council members are set to take up the proposal at meetings in June, and the budget must be adopted by June 30 so it is in place when the new fiscal year kicks off on July 1, according to WRAL. Residents who want to sound off can attend the May 28 and June 11 council meetings listed in the proposal or use the public-hearings procedures outlined on the town’s website. If council members tweak the numbers, the final property-tax rate and fee changes will be decided with the adoption vote in late June.
