Commissioner Rives Manning doesn’t like taxes.

The problem is, however, “Government cannot operate without taxes. The only option the county has to raise funds is the property tax.”

Manning said in an interview today if the county needs an extra million dollars in the next fiscal year commissioners could increase the property tax rate by 3 cents.

There is another option, Manning says, and that is the proposed one quarter cent sales tax set to go to the voters of the county on February 1. “If the voters approve this the county has the option of enacting it. I’m not saying it will be done or when it will be done.”

For the last three years, the county has dipped into its fund balance because the economy has been bad, the commissioner said. “We have cut spending in the county drastically. If we make any more it would impact services.”

Hours have been cut, no pay or cost of living raises have been given and some benefits have been cut, Manning said.

Under the quarter cent sales tax, “If a person spent $10,000 on items that are taxable they would pay an additional $25 in sales tax,” he said.

Under a 3 cent tax increase, “If a person has $100,000 worth of real property, vehicles or equipment, they would pay $30.”

Manning recommends the quarter cent sales tax.

With the quarter cent sales tax, Manning believes out of state shoppers or diners are going to pay part of the county’s taxes.

While there have been some rumblings that Halifax County Home Health and Hospice should be sold, Manning doesn’t buy that argument.

Revenues for the agency in this fiscal year are $2,079,000 and expenses are $1,800,000. “Where does that lose money? If we sold it, it would not have any income in the future.”

That issue came from discussion that the Health Department wanted to get out of that business, Manning said. “Our senior citizens were going to be losers on that. As it turned out, the health department had been utilizing a software program on collections that wasn’t generating revenues.”

This occurred over a two-year period, he said, and he said he has no idea how much may not have been accounted for. “They knew about this problem a year ago and never notified the board until April. It didn’t come to the commissioners until September.”

As the county gets closer to budget deliberations for the next fiscal year, Manning said commissioners don’t want to cut positions. “If we do services are going to be hurt. We’ve got to maintain buildings. That’s been put on hold and delayed.”

Should voters OK the referendum, it doesn’t mean commissioners will enact it, Manning said. “The Department of Revenue needs three months notice to enact it. If we don’t need it, we won’t put it in.”

The county continues to look at cost saving measures, Manning said. “We’re looking at all contracts now. We’ve saved $31,000 on copying machines. We need to look at all contracts. We’re trying to maintain services for our citizens. Many of our departments are doing more now and being asked to do more. County personnel have done a great job. We’re looking at every thing to make sure we get our full money’s worth out of every expense. I want 103 cents worth out of every dollar we spend.”