This makes the 12th year the county has adopted a budget that contains no tax increase, County Manager Tony Brown said in presenting the budget for approval.
The county was able to save $37,000 in insurance costs and transferred that money to account for an increase in health insurance for retired employees, Brown said.
Otherwise, there were no other changes in the budget and its total amount, he said.
Following the meeting, board Chairman James Pierce said, “We've got a pretty tight budget,” adding the county has major capital and school needs that still need to be addressed.
He also said there are projections that the current property revaluation in the county may end up decreasing property values, “Which means a revenue decline.”
Brown said afterward, “It will be our goal to rebuild the fund balance. We're going to be changing things and trying to be more efficient and staying on top of expenses.”
In another matter today, commissioners approved a Community Development Block Grant application in the amount of $600,000 that will be leveraged with $1.4 million in other funds for water and sewer infrastructure for a wood-related company seeking a home.
The company would create 50 new jobs, 60 percent which must be for people on low to moderate incomes, Cathy Scott, executive director of the Halifax Development Commission, said.
The company has not made a final decision on where it wants to locate.
The county is trying to recruit the company to locate on 200 acres of land north of Enfield on Highway 301.
