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Berkshire Downs Survey and Report

Berkshire Downs Survey and Report. Is Annexation a City Necessity or Requirement? In an Economic Down turn Is Now the best time to Annex?. Berkshire Downs 2009.

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Berkshire Downs Survey and Report

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  1. Berkshire Downs Survey and Report Is Annexation a City Necessity or Requirement? In an Economic Down turn Is Now the best time to Annex?

  2. Berkshire Downs 2009 The following information was assembled using resident surveys, e-mail correspondences, research and collaboration between political and non political entities. The conclusions are based on the best possible information accumulated between January 1st 2009 to March 31st 2009

  3. How many years have you lived in Berkshire Downs Subdivision?

  4. What made you decide to move to this subdivision?

  5. Income status?

  6. Financial Status

  7. Do You Understand what is means to be Annexed?

  8. Do You Want to be Annexed by the City of Raleigh?

  9. Do you know how much it will cost you to be annexed?

  10. Why do you think the City of Raleigh wants to annex Berkshire Downs?

  11. How Comfortable are you with the City digging on Your Property?

  12. If you had $20,000 to spend What would You spend it on?

  13. What % of Your Annual NET income would the assessment & taxes consume?

  14. Raleigh Unemployment According to the US Department of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate has double over the past year.

  15. U.S. Civilian Unemployment RatePast Trend Present Value & Future ProjectionPercent Unemployed Seasonally Adjusted.(forecasts.org)

  16. Another State that exceeded 10% Unemployment Economists at the University of California Santa Barbara and UCLA make their predictions

  17. U.S. Unemployment Rate Forecast(forecast.org)

  18. How does North Carolina compare to the rest of the US?

  19. U.S. Stock Market Bull or Bear IndicatorPast Trend, Present Value and Future Projection(forecasts.org)

  20. U.S. Treasury Note Yield ForecastConstant Maturity Rate. Percent Average of Month(forecasts.org)US Dollar will loose it’s purchasing power!

  21. Everyday 14,000 Americans loose their healthcare coverage

  22. Impact of and Response to Current Economic Conditions “ ….in response to the current economic downturn, the City has taken cost containment actions to offset possible budget shortfalls. These actions include a “soft” freeze on hiring, cautionary management of all operating expenses, and delay of $15 million in capital projects pending review later in the year. City management and staff are committed to continued delivery of the highest quality of essential services throughout the economic downturn and maintaining the financial integrity our citizens expect.”

  23. City of Raleigh Expenses and Program Revenues - Business-type Activities

  24. Would you want this in your front yard?Bentley Woods Residents have been told that if they refuse to allow these machines on their property they will need an attorney.

  25. City Construction Crews lack respect for residential property

  26. Imagine driving through this everyday for a year

  27. Bentley Woods Costs to City On June 12th, 2008 The original Bentley Woods Phase 1 Low Bid TOTAL was $3,498,902.60 + Water Main and Grouting Materials (based on 2008 data) $647,135.30 = $4,146,037 + labor, taxes on materials, cost over runs and incremental increases of Aprox ( X .35) Brings the the more realistic estimate to; $5,597,150

  28. ESTIMATE OF PROBABLEPROJECT COST1Berkshire Downs (Tracts 1 & 2) Annexation - Water and Sewer Improvements Estimated Construction Cost….............$2,617,200.00 Contingency……………………..........….. $261,900.00 Engineering…………………..........……... $261,900.00 Easement Acquisition (including survey & mapping)………….... $128,250.00 ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST For the City to Pay…$3,269,300.00 * Plus Labor, taxes on materials, cost over runs and price and other increases. (X .35)This would realistically place the actual cost at around. Revised Conservative Estimate $4,413,555

  29. Mandatory Assessment Costs: 130 ft =$10,518.30150 ft =$12,136.50Need to put away $438/mth for 2 years to pay $10,518.30. We just CAN NOT Afford it!

  30. Comments form Berkshire Downs Residents The following slides were prepared using the comments that residents wrote on the surveys. They are glimpses of residents struggles and frustrations of current annexation laws and the cost associated with the financial catastrophes that will occur if mandated at this time. We hope that the council will reconsider it’s decision to annex Berkshire Downs.

  31. More than 20 Years “This was the first house I bought and I am a single woman who has to work two jobs to make ends meet.”…… “This annexation makes no sense to me when the majority of the people who live here do not want it and have no problems with their existing systems.” 

  32. More than 20 Years “Our home is small and of modest construction.   One of the reasons I built here was because it was affordable for me and my family.”…..” My family income has decreased 60% over the past 18 months and we are already accessing 401K money to meet expenses.”…..” My family understands city growth is sometimes good, but for us at this time and the near future it would be a financial disaster with little to gain.”

  33. 11-15 Years “I've heard that they have tried to comfort us with the fact that we will have 2 years to save up.  I would like to know who can save $12,000 a year for the next 2 years?!  They need to consider the fact that this is not a high dollar neighborhood.”

  34. 16-20 Years “Most folks in this subdivision cannot afford the fees involved, and we definitely will not receive services equal to our costs. With the economy in such bad shape, I think it is outrageous to even consider this annexation project. What happened to hearing the peoples voice when we said no !!!”

  35. 0-5 Years “…….after being laid off, i have to pay city taxes, plus up to $20000 to the city just to connect the sewers, and then pay the plumber $5000 to connect it to my house, that means I will owe money to the banks more than what my house is worth. We can't afford any more bills of what we already have, especially now, and before they think about annexation, they need to give us work/jobs.”

  36. 0-5 Years “How a city can come in and change these people’s lives with no consideration for their livelihood and concerned only about the potential profits of urban development. It’s a sad desecration of democracy and justice.”

  37. More than 20 Years “Incorporating me into the city would create a hugh hardship, as I lost my job in Oct and have had my third heart attack, making it almost impossible to return to work. I dont see any way in which I would be able to keep my house and pay the taxes and the hook up fees etc. I would have no choice but to try to sell my house hopefully for a small profit to allow me to go somewhere else and start all over.”

  38. 0-5 Years “We don't have money to set aside for 2 yrs to save up to pay for the annexation. We have a son whom we will have to find daycare for and that will cost us on average $800/mth.”

  39. More than 20 Years “I am a state employee and I am faced with the uncertainty of having a job.  I know that state employees will probably not get a raise for the next 3 years but on the opposite end of the spectrum, the city of Raleigh is trying to collect money from people who just can't afford to take on another bill.”….” “Who can afford to pay 20,000 with no job and no raise in sight? People are struggling just to put food on the table.”

  40. 0-5 Years “Either the annexation should be postponed until the economy improves relieving some of the current financial stress on individuals or the cost must at least be in proportion to the values of property and income levels in the neighborhood.”

  41. More than 20 Years “I am hoping to retire in the not to distant future and to have to make a payment to pay off what this will cost will likely add at least five years to my work.”

  42. 6-10 Years “I am close to retirement.  I have worked hard to be able to retire.  I can not afford, nor do I want additional expenses.  I do not want nor did i ask for trucks sitting all over our lawns, digging them up for months and months……”I am a state employee, and as you know salaries are frozen.  The state takes an automatic 6% of our salary before taxes.  I am on a limited budget and have planned for years for my retirement.”

  43. More than 20 Years “There are many more restrictions on home-based businesses in the city and unless grandfathered in we would have to rent a facility to run the business from or move further out of town.  Neither is a great option.  Renting a shop would add considerably to our operating costs and in these tough financial times we are not looking to spend more money.”

  44. 16 -20 years “I am self employed and on SS the least amount that they pay and my health insurance almost half of that.” ….” I have been digging into my saving to pay my bills.”…..” We moved here because of my husband health and this was all we could afford. Now that my husband is not with me anymore God bless his sole things are even harder.”

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