Good people of Cary,

Welcome to June! It’s hard to believe we’re already 6 months into the year, and 6 months since relaunching this newsletter!

We have lots of updates for you this week, as well as an event calendar for the upcoming month.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a $2.28 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which includes a 2-cent property tax increase.

The new rate is 53.71 cents per $100 of assessed value, up from 51.71 cents. For the owner of a $450,000 home (which is roughly the median assessed value in Wake County), that works out to about $90 more annually.

County leaders described the vote as difficult but necessary. County Manager David Ellis pointed to a roughly $35 million revenue shortfall created by a growing number of property tax appeals and what he called the "Blue Ridge property tax loophole." Board Chairman Don Mial said the county is also dealing with state-level funding gaps in education, social services, and public safety. North Carolina was the only state in the country that did not pass a comprehensive budget for FY 2025-2026, which has put additional pressure on counties to fill the gaps.

The county's $2.28 billion budget includes new spending on public safety (including reopening the jail annex and hiring new EMTs), continued investment in Wake County Public Schools, and addressing growth-related needs across the county.

If Cary's own proposed property tax increase passes on June 25 (which we covered in Report 20), you would be looking at increases at both the county AND town level this summer. The final public hearing is next week, on June 11.

Additional reading: CBS17

The Soccer Tournament closed out Monday night at WakeMed Soccer Park, and Cary hosted another massive event.

Three $1 million prizes went home to three different teams. On the men's side, Hernandez United took the title in their first ever TST appearance, beating Pumas de Alabama in the championship final. The women's bracket saw Simply Futbol FC and the Iowa Demon Hawks face off (both also first-time TST teams), making for a historic finals matchup against two newcomers. The new mixed bracket, which debuted this year, capped things off with Sneaky FC vs. Peluche Hawks.

Additional reading: TST

Here is a roundup of what is coming up over the next few weeks, broken down by category so you can plan ahead.

Concerts at Koka Booth

The summer concert season is fully underway at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Lawn tickets are usually a great value at Koka Booth, and the venue feels especially nice in early summer before the humidity sets in.

Get tickets

Juneteenth Celebration at Downtown Cary Park

The Town's annual Juneteenth Celebration is back at Downtown Cary Park on Saturday, June 20 from 4 PM to 9:30 PM. This year's theme is "Freedom Dance," with historian Darrell Stover leading the program. Expect live spoken word, history presentations, jazz and R&B performances, food trucks at Park Street Courts, and a great community atmosphere. Free.

📍 Downtown Cary Park | 327 S. Academy Street More info

Summer Concert Series at Waverly Place

Waverly Place is running their free summer concert series every Wednesday in June from 5:30 to 8:30 PM (June 3, 10, 17, and 24). Family-friendly, casual, and a great way to spend a Wednesday evening.

📍 Waverly Place | 575 New Waverly Place

Cary Downtown Farmers Market

Every Saturday from 8 AM to 12 PM through October. June is usually when the market really hits its stride (strawberries, fresh tomatoes, peaches, sweet corn). It is right next to Downtown Cary Park.

📍 160 E. Park Street, Cary

The Cary Theater

The Cary Theater continues to be one of the best small venues in town. Check out their full June schedule at thecarytheater.com for the latest. Worth a stop if you have not been.

Government and Civic

Both happen at Town Council Chambers, 316 N. Academy Street

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at [email protected] and let's find something that works for you.

Lauren Daigle at Koka Booth Wednesday, June 10 | 6:30 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

Grammy-winning singer Lauren Daigle brings her tour to Cary. Tickets still available.

Get tickets

Summer Concert Series at Waverly Place Wednesday, June 3 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM | Waverly Place | 575 New Waverly Place

Free outdoor concert. Family-friendly, casual atmosphere.

Learn more

Cary Downtown Farmers Market Saturday, June 7 | 8 AM – 12 PM | 160 E. Park Street

The first Saturday market in June. Strawberries should be in great shape right now.

Learn more

Speight Branch is one of the easiest and prettiest greenway walks in Cary, and if you live anywhere near it, it is a no-brainer.

The greenway runs about 1.3 miles along Speight Branch creek, connecting neighborhoods in the Tryon Road area to MacDonald Woods Park on one end. It is fully paved, mostly flat, and shaded for a good portion of the trail thanks to the tree canopy along the creek. It feels surprisingly tucked away considering how close it is to Walnut Street and Tryon Road traffic.

Part of the greenway runs along a lake, and you can make it a full loop by going onto the Macedonia Lake Loop Trail which is directly attached to it.

The vibe is more "neighborhood walk" than "destination greenway," which is part of its charm. You will see dog walkers, families pushing strollers, and runners getting in some easy miles. It’s a trail that gets used every day by the people who live near it, and not really discovered by anyone else.

A few things worth knowing:

If you have been doing the same loop over and over and want something different (but not far from where you already are), Speight Branch is worth checking out!

📍 Park at The Lodge at Crossroads | 200 Brisbane Woods Way, Cary, NC 27518 Free | Open dawn to dusk

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this report, feel free to reply and let me know! I love hearing from you.

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