Bryant's request came after a Roanoke Rapids resident today said three commissioners during a recent meeting in which a vote onmerger ended in a deadlock attempted to place a massive property tax increase on all county taxpayers when they voted in favor of the motion.
“We need to spend a session and look at the Evergreen Study,” Bryant said of the study released in October. The full report can be found at this link under the heading Operational Improvements in Halifax County School Districts. “We have not examined the information like we should have. It can serve as a guide.”
Board Chair James Pierce said he wants to get the three school systems together in a joint meeting to discuss the document.
Bryant countered, “We as a commission need to do this to gain guidance.”
Said Pierce: “What we need to do is get on the same page on improving education.”
In his comments to the board, Stan Clayton said there were three objectives in his presentation. “The first is to express my concern at the disregard for the taxpayers demonstrated by those three commissioners (Carolyn Johnson, Marcelle Smith and Pierce) who voted yes on the motion on June 17 in an attempt to enact a massive property tax increase.”
Clayton was referring to the surprise motion by Rives Manning to go forward with consolidation.
“The second,” Clayton said, “is to make sure the citizens of Halifax County are aware of who voted to enact this tax increase and who voted to stop it (Bryant, Rachel Hux and Manning). Since the potential still exists that the tax hike will be enacted, Halifax County citizens must be informed if their representatives are for or against a tax increase.”
The third request was for an open session review of the state general statute dealing with merger.
Clayton explained that using general fund revenues to pay for merger would be about $8.7 million every year. “That represents about one-fourth of the $37 million county budget. Unless the county can find $8.7 million to cut, taxes will increase.”
Had the June vote passed and there were no cuts to the current budget, Clayton said, “Every single county property owner would have seen a tax increase. The new county-wide tax rate (would) be 95 cents per $100, an increase of 27 cents per $100. And the tax increase (would) not go away once triggered.”
Clayton further stated that those who do not pay a supplemental tax, which is most of the county, the increase would be 39 percent, affecting lake residents, those who vote in Littleton, Hollister, Ringwood or Faucette precincts; Klausner lumber in Enfield; timber and farm property in Darlington, Scotland Neck, Hobgood, Palmyra and Tillery.
Clayton said had the June vote passed, the commissioners who voted in favor would have essentially slapped the 19 cent supplemental tax referendum defeat in the face. “That seems a blatant disregard for the wishes of those people.”
A positive vote on merger would also affect taxpayers in the Weldon City School Schools District by 10 cents per $100 and those in the Roanoke Rapids Graded District by 6 percent, Clayton said.
“These are not wild or inflated claims just to scare people,” Clayton said. “These are verifiable calculations. I want to tell the whole truth to the people of Halifax County as to what will happen if, on day one, the commissioners approve the same motion that was defeated on June 17. I hope the people and businesses I mentioned soon realize what unstated, but real, intentions that some sitting commissioners and some of the future commissioner candidates have in store for them. Remember, merger means taxes or merger multiplies tax 1.39.”
Pierce responded to Clayton's presentation saying, “I recognize your view but you are making a number of assumptions including using scare tactics. There is no mention of improving eduction for all children.”
Pierce said the June vote was not about about increasing school taxes. “It was about attempting to get a discussion going on improving education for everybody. It's going to cost us dollars. We need to sit down and talk rather than accuse and point fingers. It makes them look bad in the eyes of the public.”
Manning told Pierce, “You went into editorializing.”
Responded Pierce, “So did he,” referring to Clayton.
At that point Bryant brought bought up the Evergreen study but no action was taken on the matter.
