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

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

How many years have you lived in Berkshire Downs Subdivision?

12.31%

3.08%

13.85%

35.38% 35.38%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

0 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 20 +

What made you decide to move to this subdivision?

0%3.08%

43.08%53.85%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Not in City Limits No Homeowner'sAssociation

No City Water orSewer

Other or All of theAbove

Income status?

Unemployed5%

Other11%

Fixed32%

Fluctuating52%

Fixed

Unemployed

Fluctuating

Other

Financial Status

Retired14%

Disabled3%

Laid Off8%

Employed75%

EmployedLaid OffRetiredDisabled

Do You Understand what is means to be Annexed?

Yes81.54%

No1.54%

Have an Idea16.92%

YesNoHave an Idea

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

Don't Know6%

No93.85%

Yes0.00%

YesNoDon't Know

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

Kind of11%

No5%

Yes47%

Too Much37%

Yes

No

Kind of

Too Much

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

95.38%

3.61% 0% 0%0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Get MoreMoney

Bad SepticSystems

To ProvideCity Services

Other

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

Comfortable1.54%

Some What Comfortable

18.46%

Not Comfortable

at All80.00%

Very Comfortable

Some WhatComfortable

Not Comfortable atAll

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

60.00%

40%

0% 0%0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Pay Bills Fix Up MyHome

Buy A Car Pay to beAnnexed

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

23.08%

47.69%

27.69%

1.54%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Less than 10% Between 11 &20%

More than 20% Don't Know

Raleigh Unemployment

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

U.S. Civilian Unemployment RatePast Trend Present Value & Future Projection

Percent Unemployed Seasonally Adjusted.(forecasts.org)

Another State that exceeded 10% Unemployment Economists at the University of California Santa Barbara

and UCLA make their predictions

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

Month Date Forecast Value

50%

Correct +/-

80%

Correct +/-

0 Feb 2009 8.10 0.0 0.0

1 Mar 2009 8.5 0.3 0.5

2 Apr 2009 8.8 0.4 0.6

3 May 2009 9.1 0.4 0.7

4 Jun 2009 9.4 0.4 0.7

5 Jul 2009 9.7 0.5 0.8

6 Aug 2009 10.0 0.5 0.8

7 Sep 2009 10.2 0.5 0.9

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

U.S. Stock Market Bull or Bear IndicatorPast Trend, Present Value and Future Projection

(forecasts.org)

U.S. Treasury Note Yield ForecastConstant Maturity Rate. Percent Average of Month

(forecasts.org)US Dollar will loose it’s purchasing power!

Month Date Forecast

Value

50%

Correct +/-

80%

Correct +/-

0 Feb 2009 1.870 0.00 0.00

1 Mar 2009 1.97 0.43 0.96

2 Apr 2009 1.97 0.53 1.19

3 May 2009 2.13 0.60 1.34

4 June 2009 2.29 0.65 1.46

5 July 2009 2.44 0.70 1.56

6 Aug 2009 2.55 0.74 1.65

7 Sept 2009 2,72 0.77 1.73

8 Oct 2009 2.80 0.80 1.80

Everyday 14,000 Americans loose their healthcare coverage

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.”

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

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.

City Construction Crews lack respect for residential property

Imagine driving through this everyday for a year

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

ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE PROJECT COST1

Berkshire Downs (Tracts 1 & 2) Annexation - Water and Sewer Improvements

Estimated Construction Cost….............$2,617,200.00Contingency……………………..........….. $261,900.00Engineering…………………..........……... $261,900.00Easement 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

Mandatory Assessment Costs:

130 ft =$10,518.30

150 ft =$12,136.50Need to put away $438/mth for 2

years to pay $10,518.30.

We just CAN NOT Afford it!

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.

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.” 

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.”

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.”

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 !!!”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”