Wendell board fails to pass budget on 1st attempt

The Wendell Board of Commissioners failed to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year during its May 28 meeting.

Needing a unanimous vote in order to complete this year’s budget process, the board’s attempt at passing the new budget was nixed when Commissioner Braxton Honeycutt voiced concerns with its passage.

“Through no fault of this board, any current commissioner, the mayor or any member of the staff, we don’t have all the tools the other 14 municipalities have in Wake County,” Honeycutt said. “I voted the way I did because I think that’s the way it should be. I like to have the tools in the bag before I start building the house.”

Other town board members, including Mayor Virginia Gray, seemed surprised at Honeycutt’s stance.

Commissioner Joe DeLoach expressed frustration and confusion with the failed vote.

“I’m honestly perplexed given as much time as we spent on this,” he said. “ Zero point zero times have we had a conversation of any sort of disdain, negativity, difference of opinion or that something needs to be different with this budget.”

Gray seemed shocked at Honeycutt’s decision to not vote in the favor of the budget’s passage.

“I’m bothered, and I find it a little disingenuous to make big, broad statements at the eleventh hour when I have not been made aware of any concerns that anyone has,” she said. “And I’m not aware of any tool that we don’t have.”

The budget will be presented for a second reading during the board’s next meeting on June 10. Commissioners will have another opportunity to unanimously approve the 2024-25 spending plan.

The post Wendell board fails to pass budget on 1st attempt first appeared on Restoration NewsMedia .