Brandon Zuidema, Town Manager, Town of Morrisville
Invest: spoke with Brandon Zuidema, Town Manager of Morrisville, about the revenue pressures shaping the town’s priorities, the shift toward proactive economic development, and the infrastructure and partnerships supporting future growth. “In the past, we were more reactive, but now we are actively recruiting businesses and promoting opportunities in Morrisville,” Zuidema said.
What changes have most impacted the town’s operations and priorities over the past year?
One of the biggest factors has been property tax. In Morrisville, a majority of our revenues come from property tax, and the significant revaluation that impacted FY2025 had a major effect. It was a much larger increase than we had seen in quite some time in Wake County, which led to many more appeals. Because more appeals were granted, and some are still pending, this has impacted our revenue and made us look at our budget differently.
We also developed our current budget conservatively, especially around sales tax. We actually budgeted for no growth in sales tax, and that ended up being a pleasant surprise this year. While we did not fully anticipate the revenue impact from property tax, the increase in sales tax helped offset that, so things have generally balanced out, although we know there will be challenges ahead.
We have also been adapting to changes tied to our work with Wake County, particularly around fire and EMS. We work closely with Cary and Apex, and that cooperative model helps ensure our residents receive strong service.
Another major shift has been in economic development. We now have our first economic development director, which allows us to be more proactive. In the past, we were more reactive, but now we are actively recruiting businesses and promoting opportunities in Morrisville.
What are small businesses experiencing, and how is the town helping them grow and thrive?
Small businesses are at the core of who we are as a community. During COVID, we received a government grant to support small businesses. That support included things like façade improvements, small business operational guidance, and access to financial experts who can provide advice to business owners.
We now have a full-time small-business specialist who collaborates with the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce and helps organize training, events, and access to resources. We want to make sure that once businesses are here, we support them. It’s not just about recruitment, it’s also about retention.
We are also a diverse community. We are 46% Asian Indian, and one of our focuses has been making sure we communicate effectively. Through our language access plan, most of the information we provide is available in five languages. That helps remove barriers and makes it easier for small-business owners to engage with the town.
What role does infrastructure investment play in supporting both economic development and daily operations across the town?
Infrastructure is critical, and our Town Council has done a strong job of investing not just for today, but for the future. That includes maintaining our roadways and working on larger projects to improve mobility.
We have recently widened Morrisville Carpenter Road to four lanes, and we are working with NCDOT to widen NC 54 and to widen and install a flyover for McCrimmon Parkway over NC 54 and the railroad tracks, which will improve safety and traffic flow.
We are also expanding greenways, addressing sidewalk gaps, and working to become more bikeable.
On the facilities side, we purchased the former Chamber of Commerce building to bring our Parks and Recreation Department back onto campus. We also identified an existing facility for public works rather than building a new one, which will save the town almost $10 million and support sustainability by reusing an existing structure.
How do partnerships with neighboring municipalities and regional organizations factor into your approach to growth and service delivery?
Partnerships are important for us. On the economic development side, we work closely with Wake County, the city of Raleigh, and state organizations.
At the municipal level, our relationship with Cary is especially significant. Cary provides water and sewer services, handles our 911 dispatching, and we collaborate on traffic systems. We also work with Cary and Apex on fire services in a model where the closest unit responds, regardless of jurisdiction. That approach improves response times and coordination.
Wake County is also an excellent partner, whether through EMS, health and human services, or emergency management. They play a key role in supporting municipalities across the region.
What are your top priorities for keeping Morrisville competitive over the next three to five years?
We need to continue to be proactive with our economic development efforts and maximize the space that we have available. We are still seeing new construction, and we are also getting closer to redevelopment, so that will be important for us moving forward.
We are also working with a variety of groups in the community, particularly those with office space, who have faced challenges with not everyone returning to work. We are trying to be proactive and work with that group, and you will hear more about that in the coming months.
Our small businesses are also an important part of that, and we are glad that we are able to put resources into what our Council and our community see as priorities.
Is there anything else you would like to highlight about the town’s future?
The Town Center is going to be an important part of our future. It will be a 25-acre mixed-use development with residential, commercial, and retail components, creating a downtown that Morrisville has not historically had.
The broader Town Center District will include the town green, the dog park, the Indian Creek Trailhead, and the Western Wake Farmers Market. We are also expecting a Veterans Memorial to be part of that area. It will create a central place for the community to gather and enjoy Morrisville.
