October 2013 Commentaries: The failure to raise all boats!

October 2013 Commentaries: The failure to raise all boats!: As I drive around Wake and neighboring counties I see the growth of the area thanks to an improving economy and a location which appear...

The failure to raise all boats!

As I drive around Wake and its neighboring counties I see the
growth thanks to an improving economy and a location which
appears to have endless opportunities and numerous amenities!

But, I also see beyond Wake county's horizon where the prospects
are not much better than when I moved here.  

These communities are falling behind, with little prospect of joining 

the counties thriving as they are the most desirous in the state. I'm
sure what I see is not limited to NC. Across the country the same

"recipe" is being applied, developers targeting prime areas and
ignoring most others.

States are aware of the problem, but unwittingly are doing exactly
what has created this problem, an economic divide. Among our 100
counties, the rich get richer while the poorer continue to struggle.

To combat this problem politicians offer manufactured govt.
solutions which rarely work for the long term in poorer counties.

Struggling counties use incentives to make them more appealing
based on the belief  this will  entice developers. Unfortunately,
any such enticement are rarely worth the cost!

No matter how many incentives are offered, demand to live and
work in the counties with the greatest opportunities will remain. 

Developers will continue to squeeze in as many businesses and
homes as they are allowed.  And, judging by the permits approved,
the "traffic signal" to control development is stuck on green!

Consider Cary, a town of 150,000, now 125,000 more than when
I moved here twenty-five years ago.  The projection is to grow to
200,000 within 3-4 years!  Yet, town govt. seems little concerned
beyond adding staff to provide services!

While Cary and other towns focus on their own responsibilities to
keep tax rates low by allowing excessive growth they are also sucking
the "oxygen" from so many towns on life support!

Wake, Durham and Chatham counties would be wise to limit
development and prioritize amenities for current residents.  There is
little need to build more schools for "growth". With a moratorium on development  counties can focus and invest to improve education for
150,000 Wake students rather than spend money to build new schools
for the next 50,000!

This is a very hard sell. Developers have no incentive to build in areas
where they will not  maximize their investment.

But, counties "incentives" must be more than greater revenue, its about
the quality of life for all North Carolinians, not only those who reside in
the high demand regions.

The evidence is clear.  Cary today would be unrecognizable to residents

living here twenty five years ago while hundreds of small towns across the
state look today as they did then.

Town officials in prosperous communities agree development should
continue as it has been the past fifty never.  But, they must recognize

what they do locally hurts countless communities across the state.

To aid small communities will take more than targeted tax breaks and
incentives. It will take a cooperative effort of rich and poor counties to
ensure development in prosperous communities don't hurt poorer ones.   ajbruno14@gmail.com