Wendell budget fails to pass on first attempt

The Wendell town board failed to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Tuesday night.

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

Commissioner Joe DeLoach expressed frustration and confusion with the result of the 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.”

Mayor 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 11th 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 second reading during the board’s next meeting on June 10. At that time, the board will be given another opportunity to unanimously approve and codify it for next fiscal year.

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