TOC

C A RY, N O RT H C A R O L I N A F Y 2 0 26 2 N D Q U A R T E R R E P O R T 1 A S W E W O R K T H R O U G H A P E R I O D O F T R A N S I T I O N , I WA N T T O T A K E A M O M E N T T O R E V I S I T W H Y T H E S E Q U A R T E R L Y R E P O R T S M A T T E R . We started these reports about eight years ago to keep everyone informed and support regular, ongoing conversation. They are meant to provide a clear look at our operational activities, key initiatives, and major financial trends. This update is particularly timely as we welcome our newest Councilmembers, Bella Huang and Brittany Richards, and I encourage you to see this as a tool to help you get grounded in the work and feel comfortable asking questions. My hope is that these reports help Council, staff, and our community stay on the same page about where we are and where we are headed. This quarter, we added a new section at the request of Council to provide additional information on projected revenues, expenditures, and fund balance. While the report's format may continue to evolve over time, we will keep Council informed of any changes. When I look back on Q2, what sticks out to me are the things that feel unmistakably Cary. We celebrated the holidays (tree lighting and menorah lighting), hosted well-attended festivals (Diwali), ran environmental programs, and recognized notable milestones, like the 25th anniversary of the Cary Senior Center. These are the kinds of moments and services that make Cary feel like home for folks of all ages. At the same time, we continued the practical work that matters every day, from filling sidewalk gaps to upgrading playgrounds and utilities, such as the improvements underway at Davis Drive Playground and the Old Apex Road water main. These projects may not always make headlines, but they reflect the care and attention that go into maintaining a high quality of life. We are also making progress in preparing Cary for the future. Updating our water meters, adopting clear data governance and artificial intelligence policies, and investing in employee training are all examples of steady, thoughtful work that often happens behind the scenes but makes a real difference. While some things have changed this quarter, what remains the same is our commitment to serving Cary and its citizens every day. Showing up for our citizens is who we are, and I'm proud and grateful for it. Thank you to our Council, staff, and community for being part of that every single day. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts about what you've read. That dialogue is important to helping us improve. We look forward to sharing further updates and diving deeper into these topics at the Council-Staff Retreat on Feb. 20. Thank you for your continued support, Russ Overton Interim Town Manager

• Cover