Halifax County commissioners are doing a grassroots campaign on the one quarter cent sales tax, its chairman, James Pierce said today.

“It’s been positive,” he said of the response. “Most people are not familiar with what’s going to happen or where we are.”

Halifax, the chair said, is one of the most efficiently run governments. “We have fewer employees to provide services to the county. We spend wisely and let them understand where their money goes to.”

When it comes to raising taxes or going with a quarter cent sales tax, however, Pierce believes, “The one quarter of a cent sales tax is the better of two evils. I’m not saying we’re going to implement it, we can implement it.”

Budget projections for the upcoming fiscal year will help determine whether the county, if the February 1 referendum passes, does enact it. “We could probably afford to dip into our fund balance. We might end up dipping in it. I’m not in favor of raising property taxes, especially this year.”

Thus far, it doesn’t look like the county will be in any worse financial shape than it was last year, Pierce said. “We don’t know how many cuts we’re going to get from the state. That could throw us for a loop.”

Making the argument for selling Home Health and Hospice makes no sense, Pierce said. “You can pick on any service we provide. Why don’t we lay off 15 deputies or get rid of bailiffs? Why not this and that?”

For that matter, the county could close its libraries, Pierce said. “There’s a lot of ways to cut services.”

The reason Pierce favors the quarter cent sales tax is because it is a tax that spreads the burden, because of the 40,000 some vehicles that travel Interstate 95 a day, some stop at Cracker Barrel or Walmart. “With a sales tax, we’re getting help from people who don’t live here. If we raise the property tax rate, no one is paying taxes but us.”

The $1 million the quarter cent sales is projected to raise is based on sales figures from last year. If enacted, it could raise more or less, Pierce said. “From an economic standpoint we’re doing no worse. According to reports from Christmas, sales are up. I’m optimistic.”