Wake County Board of Commissioners, District 5: Tara Waters

Name as it appears on the ballot: Tara Waters

Campaign website: www.waters4wake.com

Party affiliation: Democrat

Profession or occupation: Volunteer Manager

Years lived in Wake County: 35

1. In your view, what are the three most pressing issues facing Wake County? If elected, what will you do to address these issues?  

The most pressing issues facing Wake County are related to economic mobility and include affordable housing, access to health care, and maintaining strong public schools.  

Affordable housing is a topic of discussion all over Wake County with the rising cost of living impacting everyone. I support government-led initiatives, offering tax incentives to developers who build affordable housing, and increasing funding for affordable housing programs. One example is the county’s work to create programs that help more people obtain permanent housing more rapidly. I support investment in similar programs and others that will improve access to housing and wrap-around services.

Access to health care impacts everyone.  The benefits are numerous because of improved health outcomes, creation of jobs, and other economic benefits.  Increased services made possible through Medicaid expansion will help more county residents get the needed care.  We also have community partners expanding their support in areas, including maternal and behavioral health.  I will advocate for a variety of resources to support increased access.

Public schools provide education to students from all walks of life, regardless of their race, gender, or economic status. Strong public schools contribute significantly to the growth and development of future generations. I support public schools because they are integral to addressing social inequalities.

2. How would your experience―in politics or otherwise in your career―make you an asset to the county’s decision-making process? 

I earned a Bachelor of Arts from NC State and started my career in a Fortune 500 company.  My passion for public service was ignited when I received a fellowship from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to pursue a Master of Public Administration.  After graduation, I embarked upon a career to help adults obtain skills to access living wage jobs through multiple roles in the community college system.  My passion for education led me to apply for an appointment to the Wake Board of Education.  I was selected to represent District 4 and later elected.  While on the Board of Education, I oversaw the Student Achievement Committee and was voted vice chair.  After a rigorous selection process, I was chosen by members of the Wake Democratic Party as the nominee to represent District 5 on the Board of Commissioners.  Members of the BOC unanimously voted me into office, and I have been serving since January 2.

3. With Wake County’s rapid growth comes challenges related to suburban sprawl, transportation, and affordable housing. What have been the county’s successes in managing this growth in recent years? What about its failures? What would you do differently?

With more than 60 people choosing to make Wake County their home each day, our rapid growth has had tremendous impact on all municipalities.  The county has been able to use data to project growth and manage some of the challenges that occur when communities grow as rapidly as we have in the last decade.  There are many changes that have left members of our community out of the economic prosperity that so many enjoy.  We have also seen a strain on services like fire and public safety. I would do a program inventory to evaluate what deficits exist and triage the needs of those areas of critical importance.

4. What should be the county’s role in addressing issues of economic inequality, such as gentrification and affordable housing? Do you believe the board is doing enough to help its municipalities manage Wake County’s growth in order to prevent current residents from being priced out? 

While the county pays an important role in addressing issues of economic inequality, it is most effective when it is a county-wide program with all cities and towns working together. Elected officials and staff must engage with the community and stakeholders as we focus on addressing economic inequality.  We also have to work with investors, developers and community organizations to increase the supply of affordable housing through new construction and the preservation of existing units with effective incentives. The county must continue to work closely with municipalities to use zoning and land use policies to promote equitable development and prevent displacement of Black and Hispanic families, who are most often priced out.  We cannot think that what happens in Cary does not impact Raleigh or Zebulon. We truly are in this together as a county, and we also have to keep looking for regional solutions. Additionally, the county could invest in job training and workforce development programs to help residents acquire the skills needed to access higher-paying jobs and increase their economic mobility; having livable wages makes home ownership or living in the urban core more feasible for young workers and seniors. 

5. The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to give the Wake County Public School system a $50 million budget increase over the last fiscal year to hire more employees and raise teacher pay, $12 million more than the county manager had recommended. Was this the right move? Please explain. 

Data and court rulings like Leandro have shown that NC Public schools have been underfunded by the North Carolina General Assembly for the last 30 year. Wake county has had to fund public schools beyond the statuary requirement to keep our school system strong, produce a strong labor force, and enable our students to be prepared after high school for career and work.  A significant part of my advocacy work while on the school board was to advocate for district employees, including teachers, bus drivers, social workers, food, and nutrition workers to earn a livable wage.  Our educators and the support staff are our greatest assets in the work done to prepare our students for success. It is critical to recruit, retain, and reward those who give so much of themselves to this district.  I believe the funds given to public schools was an appropriate investment in the social, cultural, and economic future of Wake County. 

6. Thousands of Wake County residents recently received property tax appraisals that, in some cases, doubled the tax value of their homes. Many residents fear that they will not be able to continue to afford to pay taxes on their homes if Wake County’s current rate stays at .675 cents per $100 of property value. The county could opt to leave the rate revenue neutral at .4643 cents per $100 of value. Would you support this approach? Why or why not? 

A revenue neutral tax rate is an important component of the preliminary work and a part of the process that I support. In the coming weeks, a proposed budget will be presented by the County Manager, which will allow additional factors to be considered. The revenue needed to fund that budget will be evaluated and any adjustments to the revenue neutral property tax will need to be looked at in the final analysis. I will be a strong advocate for the needs of our community as a whole and the needs of those who are most vulnerable, including those who are aging in place and on a fixed income.

7. North Carolina is a “Dillon Rule” state, meaning that the only powers municipal and county governments have are the ones granted to them by the legislature. Would you like to see this changed? How would you work with state legislators from Wake County, as well as mayors and council members from the city’s municipalities, to ensure that Wake County, its municipalities, and the state are on the same page regarding policies that affect residents of Wake?

It is important to note that the Dillon Rule has been a topic of debate among citizens, elected officials, and legal experts for decades.  There are generally two perspectives.  Some believe it limits local autonomy and others argue that it helps prevent inconsistent and conflicting laws between different municipalities and counties.  There are many circumstances where being a “Dillon Rule” state has limited the county’s ability to create policies that would benefit residents. I believe that in terms of reducing sprawl, managing growth, and accessing various tax benefits for affordable housing, local governments need more flexibility. We often need a compromise from the current rules to more realistic rules for counties based on their unique circumstances. 

8. Is the county doing enough to protect, preserve, and maintain its natural resources, including parks, waterways, and green spaces?   

In the last few months, the landscape of my neighborhood has changed drastically.  The beautiful trees that surrounded my neighborhood are now gone.  Preservation of our natural resources is essential across the county.  I am glad that the county has programs, like Farmland Preservation, to ensure that our natural resources are protected and preserved. Annexation of more land has led to a strain on some public resources.  More investment in protecting parks, waterways and green spaces is important and something I will support in terms of policy and funding.

9.  Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected that you suspect might cost you some points with voters. 

I am a strong supporter of funding public schools.  While the county is only statutorily required to fund facilities, without the county allocating additional dollars, the district would not be able to offer the rich quality of education we know offer all students especially our most needy. As an elected official, I take serous the responsibility I have sworn to honor to provide for our residents, especially our children.  I believe our children have a human and civil right to a high-quality, free public education. 

10. If there is anything else you would like to address, please do so here. 

Centering people and ensuring that all residents have access to education, employment, and health care is fundamental to the work I will do as a commissioner. I will support policies that help citizens access affordable housing, living-wage positions, quality education programs, and childcare.  It is my plan to ensure that we provide resources that support seniors, children in foster care and members of the disability community as we consider the most vulnerable members of our community.

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