Check for Leaks

Cary has passed their FY 2010 budget, and with it our new Morrisville water and sewer rates. Yes, your utility bill will go up beginning with the August bill. Here's what residential water customers can expect:

Water base charge: $5.00/month (no change)
Sewer base charge: $5.00/month (no change)

Water: 1 - 8,000 gallons: $4.00/1,000 gallons (previously $3.87)
Water: 8001 - 23,000 gallons: $5.66/1,000 gallons (previously $5.49)
Water: > 23,000 gallons: $11.40/1,000 gallons

Sewer: $8.39/1,000 gallons (was $7.34 OUCH!)

For an average user of 7,000 gallons per month, that equates to an extra $8.26 per bill.

Why the increases? The short answer - Morrisville rate payers are obligated to fund a portion of the yet to be built wastewater treatment facility. Costs go up, our rates follow.

Expect more of the same over the next several years unless our elected officials negotiate with Cary. Stay tuned. And check for leaks.

Focus On: Morrisville Square

Ask Morrisville residents what they find appealing about our community and you will likely hear the words "small town feel." Hard to define, that phrase, but our local businesses play a part. So time permitting, your 'tis blogger will occasionally pass along information about local businesses under the title Focus On. Time permitting.

First up - Morrisville Square and their clever response to the temporary closing of the NC54/Morrisville-Carpenter Rd intersection.


When life gives you lemons and construction delays, hold a Road Block Party and serve lemonade.

Click to view Detour Map

Pancake Lovers - Save the Date

Saturday July 4th 8 AM - 10 AM
Morrisville Community Park
1520 Morrisville Parkway
Main Picnic Shelter


It's the annual Independence Day Pancake Breakfast, served by our very own Morrisville Fire Department. Tickets are available in advance at any staffed Parks and Rec facility or at the office at 240 Town Hall Dr. $3/Adult $1/Child in advance, $5/Adult $3/Child on the 4th.


“A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap.” - Mitch Hedberg

Morrisville, We'll Have a Problem

It's that time of year again - farmers markets are hopping, graduation plans are being made, the hum of lawn mowers is everywhere, displays of sunblock are plentiful, and..... oh, yes. This is the season when staff and elected officials decide how to spend what they collect.

This year's Morrisville budget is a far cry from last year's 19% tax increase fiasco. For the fiscal year beginning July 1st, staff has recommended cuts in spending and postponement of capital projects. They have submitted a budget that keeps our Morrisville tax rate steady at .3665. Good news, right? This year, yes. The following years.... not so much.

Your 'Tis Blogger acknowledges this is a tough economy. Really tough. Revenue is down. But years of double digit, year-over-year spending increases figure into the big picture as well. Beginning next fiscal year, if any new big ticket spending is approved, our taxes will go up on July 1, 2010. And even with no new capital spending, ie, road improvements or addition of open space, taxes will go up the following year. And the one after that. And the one after that. And the one after that. And the one.... seeing a pattern here? If this budget and LRFP are approved, by FY 2015 and with no new capital spending, our tax rate will balloon from .3665 to .4686 (Note to keeper of the ARRA stimulus money: please send fire station funds.)

At a time when the state has cut teacher pay and will likely axe funding for programs like special olympics and eliminate thousands of state jobs, it's understood that additional cuts locally will be painful. But the town needs to dig deeper than 8.5% this year if we are to thrive during the next five. (NOTE: Since staff raises are not a part of this year's budget, council should consider a policy offering 16 hours/year of comp time.)

Woulda, shoulda, coulda set aside more money for road improvements during times of plenty. Didn't. And can't undo that now. But we can learn from the mistakes of the past dozen years, and start today managing better our taxpayer's money. It's common sense, not rocket science. We need to save more of it this year or face the consequences of yearly tax increases from 2011 forward.



Have an opinion? Contact our Morrisville Town Council: TownCouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us