Cary homeowners push back on proposed tax increase
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- Cary interim manager proposed raising property tax by 3.75¢ per $100 assessed value.
- For a $649,000 home, the proposed tax change would add about $244 to annual bills.
- Residents said town and county tax hikes together would worsen affordability and budgets.
Families in Cary urged town leaders Thursday night to reconsider a proposed property tax increase, saying rising costs are already straining household budgets and could force some from their homes.
Interim Town Manager Russ Overton has proposed raising the property tax rate by 3.75 cents per $100 of assessed value. The increase would help fund public safety needs, including 21 police officers, six 911 operators and six firefighters.
For a home valued at $649,000, the change would add about $244 to the annual tax bill.
Some residents said the proposal comes on top of Wake County’s recommended 2-cent increase, which would add about $125 more for the same homeowner — making the combined impact difficult to absorb.
Cary homeowners gathered ahead of the public hearing, holding signs and voicing concerns about affordability.
“That’s probably the saddest part ... people have worked their whole lives and their one big thing is their home, and now they could stand to lose it if they can’t pay their taxes,” Cary resident Mary Insprucker said. “Something needs to change.”
During the hearing, several people urged town leaders to reconsider.
“Maybe there’s some places where you cut back and maybe there’s some places where you have to fund additionally,” Dennis Taylor, a Cary resident, said. “But we cannot, as senior citizens, take this...But for us people that are trying to pay for our home and I don’t want to lose my house to taxes and I really, truly am afraid of that here in Cary.”
Others pointed to inflation and wages that have not kept pace.
“I care very deeply about Cary and the people that live here. And that’s why I’m asking you to reject a property tax rate increase going forward,” Cary resident Bruce Forester said. “The people of not only Cary but of course, the entire country have been put in a very difficult position the past five years or so with the inflation that we’ve experienced.”
Forester added, “I don’t think I have to tell you, if you’ve been to the gas pump, the grocery store, people are in a difficult situation. Put that with the fact that wage and salary increases over the last five years have been meager at best. They’ve not kept pace with inflation, and people are stretched to the limit.”
Still, some residents voiced support for the proposed budget.
“When you look at the fact that the property taxes in Cary are the lowest in the county, we don’t need to nickel and dime. This town is worth investing in. I support your budget,” one resident said.
Another added that Cary’s parks, downtown and public safety services justify the cost, calling the town “worth investing in.”
In addition to the proposed tax increase, residents could also see higher monthly garbage and utility fees under the draft budget.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 8:17 AM with the headline "Cary homeowners push back on proposed tax increase."