To continue preserving and protecting our natural resources and to ensure that infrastructure to serve our future is in place when it’s needed, the Town Council is preparing for a May 3, 2005 bond referendum. Cary citizens will be asked whether they support using general obligation bonds as the funding option for new, regional wastewater facilities and open space preservation.
Election Results
Clean
Water Bonds for Wastewater Facilities 
| Yes | 78 % |
| No | 22 % |
Clean
Water Bonds for Open Space
| Yes | 75 % |
| No | 25 % |
The Wake County Board of Elections has summary and canvass results.
Clean Water Bonds for Wastewater Facilities - $110 million
Purpose: To fund Cary’s share of costs for a regional wastewater treatment facilities that must be built by 2011 to meet a state regulatory requirement and to meet Cary’s wastewater capacity needs through 2020.
Cary draws drinking water from Jordan Lake and discharges treated wastewater into creeks that feed the Neuse River. Cary, along with jurisdictions in Western Wake County, must begin returning wastewater to the Cape Fear River basin by 2011. By this time, many of the partners in the regional wastewater project will also have capacity needs that will be met by the new facilities.
The Town of Apex is also considering a Clean Water Bonds referendum on May 3, 2005 for its portion of the costs for the regional wastewater facilities.
Clean Water Bonds for Open Space - $10 million
Purpose: To continue Cary’s commitment to preservation as outlined in the Town’s Open Space and Historic Resources Plan
Preservation of finite natural resources is a top priority for the Town of Cary. In particular, open space protects our water supply, lessens flood hazards, promotes diversity of plants and wildlife, and preserves an interconnected system of natural resources.
In fiscal year 2002,
the Town Council approved spending $11.2 million for open space preservation
within Cary's planning jurisdiction - an unprecedented proposal for
a local government in North Carolina. Beginning in fiscal year 2003,
the council approved setting aside $1 million annually
from utility rate revenues to support open space acquisition.
See the proposed notice of intent for more detail on what Cary voters would decide May 3.
See a fact sheet on the bond package. [PDF] [HTML]
Get answers to frequently asked questions.
Advantages of Funding Projects with General Obligation Bonds
General obligation bonds are the fastest, cheapest available option to pay for projects such as wastewater treatment facilities.
Bonds for the wastewater facilities would be repaid through utility rates – an estimated $22 per month for an average household by 2012 for 25 years and about $3 per month per 1,000 gallons of water used by 2012 for non-residential customers. Open space bonds would be repaid over 20 years, either with up to 1 additional cent on the property tax rate or by using the existing $1 million annual appropriation from utility rates.
If voters say no to the wastewater bonds, the Town will be forced to pay higher interest rates to borrow the money using a different financing option. That could cause utility rates to rise even more than they would if general obligation bond funding is approved.
Read more about financing projects with general obligation bonds.
Participating in the 2005 Clean Water Bonds Referendum
See the schedule outlining referendum procedure plus the timetable for Cary citizens to ensure they’re registered to vote and to cast their ballot.The Wake County Board of Elections has forms for registering to vote and also for notifying the Board of Elections if your address has changed.
Voting Procedure
The Town Council unanimously approved a request from the Wake County Board of Elections to support using a pilot Vote by Mail program for the May 3 referendum. Read the Feb. 10 staff report and the Feb. 11 news release.
However, a bill authorizing the proposal was pulled from a N.C. Senate committee agenda the week of Feb. 14. As a result, Wake County’s elections director said there would not be enough time to implement Vote by Mail for the May 3 referendum. Read more
Recent Referendums
1999
More Information
Please send an e-mail message if you have questions or comments about the 2005 Clean Water Bonds referendum. A Town of Cary staff member will respond as quickly as possible.
If your organization would like to schedule a speaker on the bond referendum, please contact us to arrange a presentation.