NC govwatch

← All meetings

Board of Commissioners — Regular Meeting - Budget Presentation

Wake County · Board of Commissioners
Monday, May 4, 2026 at 5:00 pm · Wake County Justice Center

Regular meeting Appointments and personnelHealth and human servicesFire and EMSPolice and public safetyBudget and appropriationsGrants and outside fundingHousing and affordabilityTax rate and revaluationEnvironment and sustainabilityFaith and cultural communitiesHomelessness and shelterIntergovernmental agreementsParks and recreationRezoningTransit

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 2.Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 6, 2026, the Work Session of April 6, 2026 and the Work Session of April 13, 2026 approved · Pass · Commissioner Stallings moved, seconded by Commissioner Thomas, to the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 6, 2026 and the Work Session of April 13, 2026, The…
  2. Approved 19.Presentation of the County Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 accepted · Pass · Commissioner Thomas moved, seconded by Commissioner Evans, that the Board of Commissioners receives the Recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for consideration and…

Another 13 items passed on the consent agenda, which is a single motion covering routine business. See the list.

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Wake County commissioners hear the county manager's recommended budget for the fiscal year that starts in July, which sets up public hearings later in May. The rest of the meeting is routine: consent-agenda items add funding for the GoWake Access paratransit service and county crime-prevention grants, and update the required income mix at the Tryon Station apartment project.

The board also proclaims National Police Week and Military Appreciation Month, and works through a batch of advisory-board appointments covering everything from the Energy Advisory Commission to the Apex Planning Board.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Commissioners approved the consent agenda 7-0, covering added funding for the GoWake Access paratransit program, county grant acceptances, the 2026 affordable-housing action plan and a revised income mix at the Tryon Station apartments. They pulled one item first: at Commissioner Vickie Adamson's request, the board voted 7-0 to remove a measure amending WakeMed's articles of incorporation and its transfer agreement with the county, both legal steps toward WakeMed's proposed combination with Atrium Health, from the consent agenda. Adamson then moved to defer the item at least 90 days and take no other action on it, which the board approved unanimously. Chair Don Mial said the delay would give WakeMed and Atrium time to hear residents' questions and concerns before the county acts.

Twelve people addressed the board during general public comment, most on the WakeMed-Atrium proposal. WakeMed CEO Donald Gintzig and several current and former WakeMed board members and physicians spoke in favor, while other residents raised concerns or asked for more time before any vote. Commissioners then voted 7-0 to receive the county manager's recommended fiscal 2027 budget, setting public hearings for May 11 and May 18, budget work sessions for May 11 and May 21, and adoption for June 1.

How the votes went

On approving the agenda, with Item 16 (the WakeMed articles-of-incorporation and transfer-agreement amendment) pulled from consent for separate consideration: 7-0. On the minutes of the April 6 regular meeting and the April 6 and April 13 work sessions: 7-0. On the consent agenda, minus Item 16: 7-0. On Commissioner Adamson's motion to defer Item 16 at least 90 days with no further action today: 7-0. On receiving the county manager's recommended FY2027 budget and setting the public-hearing, work-session and adoption schedule: 7-0.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

12 members of the public spoke.

  1. Donald Gintzig, CEO of WakeMed, described community support for the hospital and said WakeMed needs a strategic partner to access capital and remain competitive.
  2. Joshua Ward, a physician, raised concerns about the merger but thanked the board for delaying the vote.
  3. Margaret Bratton, vice chair of WakeMed's board of directors, called it a considered decision meant to let WakeMed keep providing services from a position of strength.
  4. Octavia Rainey, of southeast Raleigh, recounted WakeMed's history of serving Black patients before Rex Hospital and said she supports the merger.
  5. Dan Blue, a WakeMed board member for ten years, spoke in support of the merger.
  6. Dr. Brian Klausner, a WakeMed public health physician, described plans to merge population-health management with Atrium and said he is confident in WakeMed's leadership.
  7. Tom Oxholm, a WakeMed Foundation board member for twelve years, commented on the Money Commission and indigent care.
  8. Sig Hutchinson, a former Wake County commissioner, said he trusts WakeMed's leadership and that the timing is right for a new partnership.
  9. Michael Rudin asked the board for more time to deliberate on the merger.
  10. Damian Gu commented on the proclamation requests on the agenda and asked the board to vote against the merger.
  11. Ruby Floyd, of southeast Raleigh, opposed the merger and asked whether WakeMed and Atrium's policies would preserve the same level of care for all patients.
  12. John Adcock, of Holly Springs, said there had been no public engagement and raised concerns about the merger.

Public comment centered on WakeMed's proposed combination with Atrium Health. WakeMed's CEO, two of its board members, two of its physicians and a WakeMed Foundation board member spoke in favor; other speakers raised concerns about the deal or asked the board for more time before acting. Nine other people signed up but had no comment recorded when called.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Public comment runs 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the first regular meeting of the month and 2:30 to 3 p.m. at the second. Speakers get three minutes. Written comments can be submitted online between 9 a.m. and noon on the day of a regular meeting.

Wake County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (39 on this agenda)
  1. Meeting Called to Order: Chair Don Mial
  2. Pledge of Allegiance
  3. Invocation: Chair Don Mial
  4. Items of Business
  5. 1.Approval of Agenda
  6. 2.Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 6, 2026, the…
  7. 3.National Police Week Proclamation
  8. 4.Sheriff Commendation Awards Presentation
  9. 5.Military Appreciation Month Proclamation
  10. Consent Agenda
  11. 6.Additional Funding for GoWake Access Transportation Program
  12. 7.Accept and Appropriate Grant Funds for the Continuum of Care Program
  13. 8.Accept and Appropriate Additional Juvenile Crime Prevention Council F…
  14. 9.Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Annual Plan and Certifi…
  15. 10.Approval of Wake County 2026 Affordable Housing Annual Action Plan
  16. 11.Updated Affordability Mix for Tryon Station Apartments
  17. 12.Amend the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget to Appropriate FY 2025 Positive Var…
  18. 13.Extenuating Circumstances for Reinstatement of Retiree Health Insuran…
  19. 14.Designation of Map and Plat Review Officers for the Town of Wake Fore…
  20. 15.Proclamations Requested for May 4, 2026
  21. 16.WakeMed Board of Directors Amendment to WakeMed’s Articles of Incorpo…
  22. 17.Tax Committee Recommendations for Gross Receipts Penalty, Refund Requ…
  23. General Public Comments
  24. 18.General Public Comments
  25. Regular Agenda
  26. 19.Presentation of the County Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Ye…
  27. Appointments
  28. 20.Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
  29. 21.City of Raleigh - Dix Park Commission
  30. 22.Energy Advisory Commission
  31. 23.Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
  32. 24.Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee
  33. 25.Town of Apex Planning Board
  34. 26.Upcoming Vacancies for June 2026
  35. Other Business
  36. 27.Reports from Advisory and Regional Boards
  37. 28.Other Reports from Commissioners
  38. Closed Session
  39. Adjourn

Agenda items (39)

Consent agenda · 13Appointment · 8Procedural · 7Other · 2Proclamation or recognition · 2Presentation · 2Staff or committee report · 2Minutes approval · 1Discussion item · 1Closed session · 1
  1. Meeting Called to Order: Chair Don Mial
    Other
  2. Pledge of Allegiance
    Procedural
  3. Invocation: Chair Don Mial
    Procedural
  4. Items of Business
    Procedural Fire and EMS
  5. 1. Approval of Agenda
    Procedural Fire and EMS
  6. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 6, 2026, the Work Session of April 6, 2026 and the Work Session of April 13, 2026
    Minutes approval Fire and EMS
    approved · Pass · Commissioner Stallings moved, seconded by Commissioner Thomas, to the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 6, 2026 and the Work Session of April 13, 2026, The motion carried by the following vote:
  7. 3. National Police Week Proclamation
    Proclamation or recognition Fire and EMSPolice and public safety
    The board proclaims National Police Week.
  8. 4. Sheriff Commendation Awards Presentation
    Presentation Fire and EMSPolice and public safety
    The board presents commendation awards to sheriff's office staff.
  9. 5. Military Appreciation Month Proclamation
    Proclamation or recognition Fire and EMSPolice and public safety
    The board proclaims May as Military Appreciation Month.
  1. General Public Comments
    Procedural
  2. 18. General Public Comments
    Procedural
  3. Regular Agenda
    Other
  4. 19. Presentation of the County Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2027
    Presentation Budget and appropriationsTax rate and revaluation
    The county manager presents the recommended budget for the fiscal year starting July 2026, which sets up public budget hearings later in May.
    accepted · Pass · Commissioner Thomas moved, seconded by Commissioner Evans, that the Board of Commissioners receives the Recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for consideration and approves the following: 1. Instructs the County Manager to organize a process for receiving virtual public comments on the recommended budget; and 2. Holds public hearings on the budget on a. Monday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Wake Common…
  5. Appointments
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
  6. 20. Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
    Appointment Appointments and personnelHealth and human services
    The board considers reappointing Kay Castillo to the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee, following William Lamb's resignation from the committee.
  7. 21. City of Raleigh - Dix Park Commission
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
    The board considers appointing Damon Circosta, recommended by multiple commissioners, to a vacant seat on the City of Raleigh's Dix Park Commission.
  8. 22. Energy Advisory Commission
    Appointment Appointments and personnelEnvironment and sustainability
    The board considers reappointing Jeffrey Lippard to the Energy Advisory Commission, following Larry Nunnery's term completion.
  9. 23. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
    Appointment Appointments and personnelParks and recreationPolice and public safety
    The board considers reappointing Duane Holder as the county manager's designee to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; designee seats for parks and recreation and for a local police chief remain vacant.
  10. 24. Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee
    Appointment Appointments and personnelHealth and human services
    The board considers reappointing six members of the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee: Anne Schick, Sarah Lynn Raha, Carol Derrenbacher, Bennet Cotton, Sandra Deutsch and Marilyn House.
  11. 25. Town of Apex Planning Board
    Appointment Appointments and personnelRezoning
    The board considers appointing Mark Spanioli, recommended by the Town of Apex, to the extraterritorial-jurisdiction seat on the Apex Planning Board.
  12. 26. Upcoming Vacancies for June 2026
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
    Lists vacancies to be filled June 1 across eleven boards and committees, including the Agricultural Advisory Board, the Fire Commission and the Wake Technical Community College Board of Trustees.
  13. Other Business
    Discussion item
  14. 27. Reports from Advisory and Regional Boards
    Staff or committee report
  15. 28. Other Reports from Commissioners
    Staff or committee report
  16. Closed Session
    Closed session
  17. Adjourn
    Procedural

Other recent meetings of this board