Mr. Zenger inaccurately criticizes local governments for not cutting spending but has no problem receiving extraordinary state benefits given to legislators at taxpayers’ expense or increasing state spending.
In a statement made during a meeting of a special committee of the NC House to erode local government’s taxing authority, Mr. Zenger said, “It concerns me how quickly we will make our constituents cut their spending and tighten their belts, but I have not heard one single municipality say, ‘Hey, we could tighten up.”
Mr. Zenger’s statement demonstrates that he is unaware that Lewisville (a town he represents) cut its operational spending by 8.5% in its 2026/27 budget reducing spending in every department except for necessary expenditures for road maintenance and community policing.
As a state legislator, Mr. Zenger overlooks the very expensive taxpayer-paid-for benefits that legislators receive including healthcare, annual salaries, cash payments for housing, travel and meals and a very generous 18.20% contribution to his state pension.
Maybe the state could “tighten up their belts” a little starting with legislator’s benefits that are far superior to the majority of their constituents and most working folks in North Carolina.
And why did it take more than 1,000 days to pass a new comprehensive state budget? The municipalities Mr. Zenger represent must, by law, pass a new budget by June 30th of every year.
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Lewisville’s 2026/27 Budget
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