Committee to Elect Gary Hartong

06/02/2026

The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday to adopt a $2.282 billion annual budget for FY27 requiring a $90 per home per year property tax increase. Commissioners are adamant that the tax increase is necessary due to a variety of reasons - adding 25 more Medicaid application processing positions, adding 16 more EMT positions, funding a County detention center expansion, covering $500+ million in Wake County Public Schools operating expenses, and adjusting to a shifting Federal and State funding landscape - while maintaining current levels of other programmatic expenses.

Wake County commissioners unanimously approved a budget that includes a property tax increase, raising concerns for residents amid a challenging economic climate.

05/29/2026

15 Battle Stars. Participation in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater during WWII. And yet it sits quietly on the banks across the river from the City of Wilmington awaiting visitors and friends. Reminder - Memorial Day extends beyond a late May Monday.

05/25/2026

There are thousands of untold heroic stories from our deceased veterans, living veterans and active duty U.S. Military. Many are purposefully untold. Some have been forgotten through the years. And others never had a witness of the heroism that occurred. Today we honor and remember those soldiers who have and will continue to protect our country.

05/24/2026

Support Local. Jess and I had a great breakfast at bigedsnc on Saturday morning and it reinforced why I love our local businesses. Not only does the food delight (hint: country ham with red eye gravy 😉), but Big Ed’s has been hiring local residents to work in its 3 establishments since 1958. And notably founder Big Ed is a native of Wake County.

Now another hot biscuit with molasses please…

05/23/2026

15 HVAC issues just this week in addition to 46 school closings last year due to deferred HVAC maintenance. This is what happens when you have $200 million in deferred maintenance costs with a partially-funded Capital Improvements Plan. Wake County's investment into maintaining modern and safe schools for our educators and students in the Wake County Public School System should be a top priority.

HVAC failures across 15 Wake County schools, including Joyner Elementary, have left students enduring sweltering classrooms and prompted some frustrated parents to send their children to school with box fans.

05/20/2026

What an incredibly special evening hosted by 2028 NC Secretary of State Candidate Bob Winstead. Putting others before himself, which is what showcases his character, Bob made sure to give all candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves. Thereafter, Bob explained his vision for initiating, growing and supporting businesses statewide.

05/20/2026

Wake County should be investing its property tax revenues into the maintenance, repair and replacement of HVAC systems in the WCPSS facilities - reliable, safe and modern facilities should be a top priority for our educators and students.

Reedy Creek Middle School in Cary is dealing with HVAC issues that caused its air conditioning system to stop working on Monday, according to Wake County Schools.

05/17/2026

Grateful for the attendance of our industry colleagues and friends at our first fundraiser on Wednesday evening in downtown . We were pleased to be joined by special guests Representative Mike Schietzelt, Wake Forest Commissioner Nick Sliwinski, and NC Secretary of State Candidate Bob Winstead.

And, a special THANK YOU to our event sponsors for the campaign support!

05/16/2026

Public forums to be held on May 19, 21, 26, 27 and 28. Wake County residents should plan to attend to be informed of any healthcare service or cost implications associated with the proposed merger.

The public will soon have its chance to weigh in on the proposed merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health.

05/14/2026

Gary’s 60-Second Brief: System Development Fees

Water and sewer system development fees (SDFs) in Wake County are one-time charges assessed to new development when connected to public utility systems, based on state law under Chapter 162A. These fees are designed to recover a proportional share of the cost of renovating or expanding infrastructure -such as treatment plants, pipelines, and capacity - needed to serve new growth. SDFs are charged by some municipalities that offer water and sewer services within Wake County, but not by the County itself.

As differentiated from impact fees which are illegal in North Carolina, SDFs are calculated using standardized methodologies and are typically collected at the time of building permit issuance or service connection, ensuring that new users contribute to the system they will rely on. The SDFs are set by local government elected officials who own the utility system and are not mandatory.

SDFs are calculated so that “growth pays for growth” by shifting capital costs away from existing residents. By funding infrastructure expansion upfront, these fees can reduce the need for local governments to raise property taxes or utility rates to cover system upgrades. If SDFs are set high, they can deter growth away from the service area; likewise, if set low, they can help attract new development to the service area.

In fast-growing areas like Wake County, this approach helps maintain financial stability for public utilities while accommodating population growth. Water and sewer SDFs act as a key fiscal tool to balance growth, infrastructure demands, and taxpayer protection.