Zapple still holding budget meeting after public hearing postponed

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County Commissioner is planning a community meeting on June 5 after a public hearing for the proposed budget was cancelled that day.

The public hearing was moved to June 19. That is the same day the commissioners will vote on the proposed $327 million budget.

At the last commission meeting, Chairman Woody White announced the change. Commissioner Rob Zapple said he does not think the public hearing and the vote should be on the same day.

“I heard from many people within the community who suggested a scenario that we’re going to have the public hearing and then turn around and vote on the budget,” Zapple said. “That doesn’t give time for reflection. That doesn’t give us time for additional information.”

That is why Zapple said he is planning a community meeting on June 5 to allow the public to voice their opinion about the budget 2 weeks before the vote.

“So that people have time to come forward with the positives, and you know questions that they want and I will do my best to answer them and certainly to accept any additional information. I’d be more than happy to pass it along to our clerks who can distribute it to the rest of the boards,” Zapple said.

White said the hearing was rescheduled because of a private conflict.

We reached out to the other commissioners. So far, White, Patricia Kusek and Skip Watkins do not plan on attending the meeting planned for June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the New Hanover County Courthouse.