2 GOP senators vote against NC budget over ferry tolls 

For the first time since 2013, a Republican senator has voted against a full North Carolina state budget. 

Sens. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck; and Norman Sanderson, R-Pamlico, voted against Senate Bill 257, the 2026 Appropriations Act, on second reading Wednesday over a provision requiring tolls on all state ferry routes. 

Neither senator voted against the budget on final reading Thursday. Hanig was absent, while Sanderson voted for the bill. 

The budget would require the Ferry Division to begin collecting tolls on all seven of its ferry routes no later than Jan. 1, 2027. Three routes are currently tolled. 

The budget does not specify how much the new tolls would be, but it would create a $150 annual residential commuter pass. The fare for a typical vehicle currently ranges from $7 to $15 on the state’s existing tolled ferries, depending on the route. 

In coastal communities, ferries are part of the state highway system, connecting residents to jobs, schools, medical appointments, grocery stores, and other basic services in areas where bridges are limited or nonexistent. 

“I made a promise to my constituents a long time ago that I would not vote for a ferry tax,” Hanig said. “For that reason, I have to be ‘no’ on this budget.” 

Sanderson said lawmakers should wait for a pending Ferry Division audit before expanding ferry tolls. House Bill 1094 would require State Auditor Dave Boliek to conduct the audit and report his findings to lawmakers by Jan. 15, 2027. 

“I’m just asking us to reconsider this part of the budget and give us a chance to get through to this audit that we have requested… to see if there’s other ways that we can save money in the ferry system and not have to toll the citizens of North Carolina, who already pay gas taxes,” Sanderson said. 

Both Hanig and Sanderson said they supported much of the budget, including historic raises for teachers and state employees, but said the ferry-toll provision would hurt their coastal constituents too much to back the final spending plan. 

The votes marked another rare break between the coastal senators and Republican leadership this session. In June 2025, Hanig and Sanderson were among four Senate Republicans who opposed a GOP-backed shrimp-trawling ban along the coast. 

Mitch Kokai, senior political analyst at the John Locke Foundation, said the budget “no” votes were unexpected but came in an unusual political moment. 

“This is Sen. Phil Berger’s last budget as president pro tem, so neither Hanig nor fellow ‘no’ vote Sen. Norm Sanderson needs to worry much about long-term negative impacts of crossing the Senate’s current leader,” Kokai said. 

Kokai said Hanig likely also feels less pressure to follow the party line because he is not running for reelection. In addition, with nine Democrats voting for the budget, he said Republican leaders probably felt less pressure to keep every GOP senator on board. 

“Both coastal senators can cast their protest votes without having much impact on the budget’s ultimate outcome,” Kokai added. “Still, it will be worthwhile to watch future budget debates. Especially if Republicans have smaller working margins in 2027, they will need every vote they can get from their own caucus on the budget and other high-priority items.” 

The budget passed the House 88-21 and the Senate 35-10 on final reading Thursday. No House Republicans voted against it. 

Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, has until July 12 to sign or veto the budget. 

“2 GOP senators vote against NC budget over ferry tolls ” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.