New census data ranking Wake County seventh in growth in the nation is sobering. More than 38,000 people moved to our county in just one year. That's as if an entire town were built in Wake County in 12 months.

Each day, approximately 100 people move here. The Triangle grew 30.6 percent from 2000 to 2007, and this growth will continue in coming decades.

Actions we do or don't take now will affect our communities for years to come. Our quality of life, including top schools, good jobs and green space, will erode if we fail to plan for adequate water supply, classrooms, transportation systems and housing needs of a population that is projected to double by 2030.

Growth should pay for growth. Key to growth management is having a plan to pay for infrastructure needs. Who should pay? Just existing taxpayers, or should those profiting from development and those moving here pay their fair share? There are other options besides increasing everyone's property taxes. Since the building, buying and selling of real estate fuels growth, a fee on all real estate transactions is the fairest way to supplement the cost of additional schools that are needed.

Some county commissioners are suggesting a sales tax to pay for schools and more, but a transfer tax will raise more revenue. A sales tax heavily impacts the poor, and it doesn't grow with inflation in building costs. County officials should lead by educating voters why a transfer tax makes sense and not cave to the real estate lobby. Either everyone will pay significantly more in property and/or sales taxes, or those buying and selling land and real estate reduce the burden.

Current impact fees do not pay for the full cost of roads and parks needed for new development. Current proposals in both Raleigh and Cary would increase impact fees, and that is only fair.

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Wake County and its municipalities should consider other options to manage and pay for quality growth long-term:

WATER SUPPLY: Long range regional water planning is a necessity to help us plan for growth. Plus, more droughts are predicted for the future. Also, Raleigh's public utility (which manages water supply for Raleigh and six towns) must review water and wastewater tap fees in line with the "impact" of future development demands. This information must be transparent, so the public understands the true costs to taxpayers. Florida and other fast-growing areas are charging water capacity fees and developers are paying. Why not here?

ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES: Wake County and towns ought to look at whether we are connecting growth and the new infrastructure needed by that growth. Current water, transportation and school crises highlight how we have overextended. Many other North Carolina municipalities have adequate public facilities ordinances (APFO), including Franklin, Orange, Cabarrus and Union Counties. Why not here? An APFO would prevent growth from outpacing our schools and infrastructure, or fund their expansion.

TRANSIT AND LAND USE: If we aspire to be a 21st century metropolitan region, we must build an interconnected transit system before it is too late. Road headaches will only worsen if we continue to delay planning and building a multi-modal transportation network to move people across the Triangle.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Thousands drive across the county and between counties to commute from home to work often because of increased housing costs. If affordable housing existed in each community, commutes would decrease, as would school reassignments. Wake lacks any standards for mandating affordable housing in new development. Requiring a small percentage of affordable housing everywhere is a fair trade for reduced road trips and neighborhood schools.

Voters in last year's municipal elections sent a clear message -- they are concerned about growth and expect elected officials to be courageous visionary leaders. WakeUP Wake County, a voice for citizens and not short-term financial interests, believes that growth is good, as long as it's planned for and paid for in a way fair to our citizens.

(Karen Rindge of Raleigh is chair of WakeUP Wake County, a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizens group.)