Halifax County commissioners Monday night unanimously approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year which begins July 1.
“This is the result of about 10 months of preparation both on your part and on staff’s part to bring you a balanced budget that addresses services into the next fiscal year,” County Manager Dia Denton told the board before Chenoa Davis made the motion for approval of the $60,552,080 financial plan with a second from Sammy Webb. “You had the budget work session in April and the presentation of the budget in May and a public hearing earlier this month with no speakers.”
There are no further changes to the monetary blueprint from when it was presented last month, she said.
The budget was unanimously approved.
Board Chair Vernon Bryant said, “I do want to thank Ms. Denton and her staff for working so hard and it took us one work session to do it. I’ve been a commissioner for a long time and sometimes we’ve gone over it twice, sometimes three times … I think it shows a lot of efficiency on her staff’s part and on our part and so to Ms. Denton and her staff — job well done — and to the commissioners I appreciate all your hard work as well.”
Bryant said the retreats the board has in December are designed to give direction on budget planning. “So again, I commend each one of you for a job well done.”
Near the end of the meeting Commissioner Jimmie Silver said he would like for staff to look at salaries for the 2026-27 fiscal year. “I’m very interested in next year’s budget starting earlier and making sure county employees get a living wage of $18 an hour.”
Referring to an earlier discussion about a company wanting to locate in the corporate park off Highway 561 with salaries more than that, Silver said, “I’m charging all the commissioners to be thinking about that next year.”
Bryant said he didn’t disagree with Silver but said, “We had that compensation study this past year. We did follow along with what was recommended for our lower paid employees and our staff did recommend a higher salary.”
Staff recommended that no county employee make less than $30,000 a year. “I understand what you’re saying but I want you to know some steps have been taken,” Bryant said.
Denton said she and staff would begin to look at revenue projections later this year and start making projections about what the budget can afford as far as raises. “Because we just did a salary study, if you were to raise the minimum — they’re at $15 an hour right now — to $18 an hour then you’ll have to raise everybody because that creates compression. That was what the salary study addressed. If you move the lowest hourly rate up that much you’re going to have to raise everybody up that much.”
Budget details
The budget is based on an estimated property tax base of $4,664,723,032 and a tax collection rate of 98 percent.
The tax rate of $0.70 cents per $100 value will be adequate to support the FY 2025-2026 budget.
Absorbs a 15 percent increase in property and liability insurance coverage.
The county provides local funding to each graded school district based on ADM allotments that are provided by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the amount allocated will increase from $799.37 per pupil to $824.67 per pupil.
Continues to provide a competitive benefits package, which includes 100 percent paid premiums for health coverage for each full-time employee who participates in the county's wellness program.
Provides a 1.75 percent cost of living adjustment for all full-time employees, plus a step increase of 1.25 percent for each employee, for a 3 percent total increase for all staff.
Maintains the longevity pay program, which is a vital employee retention tool to reward long-term full-time employees.
Provides a one-grade increase for all detention center positions. Each grade within the salary grade and step table equates to 5 percent. The total salary increase for all positions in the detention center is 8 percent including the 3 percent cost of living adjustment.
Funds the pay-for-performance evaluation plan, a vital employee retention tool.
Includes funds to support both economic development and contingency operations.
Continues to require employees to use county vehicles, when available, for travel.
Funds needed capital outlay for county departments.
Provides funding to the Community Grants program in the amount of $50,000.
Provides funding to create a county parks and recreation department.
