Cary residents had their first chance Thursday night to sound off on the town's proposed budget for fiscal year 2010.

As it stands now, the budget comes in at just under $217 million, which Town Manager Ben Shivar says is a 25 percent decrease from 2009.

"The Operating Budget totals $166.6 million, which is a 2.2% increase," said Shivar. "And the Capital Budget totals just over $50 million, which is a 60% decrease over last year."

Only three people took the opportunity to speak at the first of two public hearings.

A pair of representatives from Downtown Turnaround were up first, asking the council to reconsider putting the town's Streetscape project on hold due to the economy.

"Shall we choose to experience continued deterioration of Cary's core, or finally fulfill the promise of downtown revitalization?" asked George Dohanich. "The latter choice produces an economic cascade effect not only to the Main Street residents, but to the town in general through tourist dollars, increased revenue, and a sense of community."

The group is asking for Cary to start the project slowly, rather than delay it entirely; they say improvements like the renovation of Cary Elementary are too important to put off completely.

"The residents in Cary will support you," said Julie Cox. "And in fact I believe they will flock in droves to live, shop, play, and open small businesses downtown."

The only other resident to speak out asked the council to fund protection of open space in Cary; Dennis Hoadley says the original budget proposal included money for that type of program, but he was disappointed that council members talked about taking it out in a work session.

"There's a difference between being super-conservative and being extremely frugal and stupid," said Hoadley. "I would ask you to take a good hard look at the open spaces and if at all possible continue that program."

There is one more public hearing on the budget scheduled for Wednesday, June 10; the council is expected to adopt the budget on June 25.

Also Thursday, the council discussed the town's continued moratorium on annexations in Chatham County, which has been in place off and on for the last five years.

Council members will consider extending that moratorium at their meeting on June 10, but are asking that the proposal include a requirement that Chatham County meets the same standards to which Cary has been held.

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