Renegar: Gather input, make decisions for all

Following is a profile on one of the nine candidates seeking the Republican nomination for three seats on the Davie County Board of Commissioners.

The Candidate

Name

Terry Renegar

Age

63

Address

James Way, Advance

Family

Wife, Susan; 2 sons, Luke and Andy

Occupation

CPA in public practice, Edwards Falls & Renegar, PLLC – manager/member

Education

BS in Business Administration, UNC-Chapel Hill (1983)

In The Community

• Davie County Commissioner, Dec. 2012 to Present

• Davie County Board of Education, July 2006 to June 2012

• Ardmore Baptist Church, member and former trustee

• Davie Community Foundation, former board member and treasurer

• Davidson/Davie Community College Foundation, member 2017 to present

• Ignite Davie Steering Committee, inception to present

• Atrium Health (formerly Wake Forest Baptist Health) Davie Co, trustee 2020 to present

Why did you decide to seek public office?

Renegar: I have had the honor of serving Davie County in different areas of public service since 2006. Over the years, I met with numerous Davie residents from across the county. I listened to their opinions regarding needs and solutions. Much has changed in Davie since 2006 and my first year in public service. My decision-making process has been and will continue to include gathering input and then making decisions in the best overall interest of the County.

While much has changed, Davie County pride has never wavered. As we all know, Davie County is a great place to live and raise a family. The secret is out. Davie will continue to be an attractive destination for business and families. Navigating the inevitable growth at a measured rate while preserving the rural heritage has been a challenge and will continue. Our County will continue to be successful if we all work together and focus on solving factual issues. As a County, we must agree on priorities and work to solve these problems in a logical and systematic manner. Through past business experiences and public service, I have shown that I am successful in achieving inclusive and workable solutions.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the county, and how do you intend to address those challenges?

Renegar: The following issues are facing Davie County as:

1. Budget Constraints

2. Improved Infrastructure

3. Growth

Budget constraints are not unique to Davie County as most all counties and municipalities struggle to fund all initiatives and goals in the short run. At present, the County has a single source of revenue for general operations and that is property taxes. No one, including me, wants to see a property tax increase. Property values have increased significantly over the past several years and in turn property tax revenues have increased. Hopefully, this trend will continue.

The other side of the budget is costs and our costs have increased at a rate higher than our revenue. Davie County has always lived within its means and there has not been a property tax increase for operations since 2006. The only property tax increase since 2006 was for capital needs (high school & parks) in 2016 and was approved by vote. Budgetary constraints will continue to be an annual challenge and will require strategic thought.

The second issue is continued improvement of infrastructure. Davie County has improved and continues to improve its infrastructure. At present, the construction of the new water treatment plant in Cooleemee is the largest County project to date.

Adequate infrastructure is an essential component for sustainable quality of life. The investments made by the County to date should serve the population and future generations for at least 50 years. The infrastructure improvement plan needs to be updated as necessary.

The third issue is growth, addressed in the next section.

Is the county doing enough to manage industrial and residential growth?

Renegar: Davie County needs a strong and sustainable industrial base for several reasons. An industrial base generates property taxes while requiring limited government services. Jobs are created which generate monies for the local economy i.e. keep Davie dollars in Davie.

Over the past few years, Davie has realized significant economic wins in increasing the industrial base.These successes have not been by chance and should not be taken for granted. From these successes, the County’s budget was positively impacted and the average wage in Davie County has increased. Continued expansion of the industrial base should continue with a focus on even better paying sustainable jobs.

The County has a Land Use Plan adopted in 2019 identifying areas for residential use. This plan was generated over a two-year period with input from citizens across Davie County.

Residential density has become a consistent topic over the past few years and is being duly considered. The Land Use Plan is a working document and should be revised as necessary for the long-term needs of the County and not a short-term reaction. Any changes should be considered with construction affordability in mind.

Other Issues

Renegar: I will continue to work and make objective decisions in the best interests for all in Davie County. I would appreciate your vote on March 5.

The post Renegar: Gather input, make decisions for all appeared first on Davie County Enterprise Record .