Mayor gets heated, used F-word, at budget meeting in Waxhaw, N.C.

WAXHAW, N.C. — Waxhaw Mayor Robert Murray is facing calls for an apology from town council members after using profanity multiple times during a heated budget discussion at the latest council meeting.

Murray used the F-word several times while expressing frustration over the proposed tax rate, language that caught both council members and residents in attendance off guard. 

Many consider this meeting one of the most important annual discussions for the town’s financial future.

“It’s unfortunate that that occurred,” Mayor Pro Tem Brenda McMillon said. McMillon expressed surprise at the mayor’s choice of words during the budget deliberations.

The incident occurred as council members debated the town’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year. Tensions ran high over spending priorities and tax implications for residents.

McMillon emphasized budget discussions require difficult decisions that benefit the community as a whole.

“Everything that you may want in a budget, it’s not going to occur,” McMillon said. “So cuts will occur, and it’s not about the individual, like the individual board member. It’s about doing what’s right for the citizens in the town of Waxhaw.”

However, not every council member took issue with the mayor’s actions. 

Town Council Member Susanna Wedra defended Murray’s role in the meeting.

“The mayor took control of the meeting,” Wedra said. “We are in the minority. The mayor does not vote on the board.”

Council Member Richard Daunt also showed understanding for the mayor’s outburst.

“I can understand his frustration, and we all lose patience from time to time,” Daunt said. “So try to be forgiving about that.”

McMillon, however, is calling for accountability from the town’s leader.

“The mayor has to be accountable for his actions, then your apology needs to be as loud as your disrespect for what did happen,” McMillon said.

Despite the controversy surrounding the meeting, Council Member Jason Hall remains optimistic that the board can move forward in the best interests of residents.

“Maybe this is that opportunity where we can come together,” Hall said. “This is the single most difficult decision we’ve had to make. We made it unanimously. And so maybe this is building that bridge going forward.”

The incident highlights the challenges facing Waxhaw officials as they navigate budget constraints and community needs in their fiscal planning process.

Waxhaw is scheduled to hold its next town council meeting on July 8, where the budget discussion is expected to continue and residents will likely be watching closely for how officials conduct themselves during public deliberations.

Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.