That means the tax rate for next fiscal year will be 77 cents per $100 of valuation.

The only adjustments made to the financial plan were an additional $75,000 allocated to Halifax Community College and making what was a part-time legal assistant within the county attorney’s office a full-time position, County Manager Tony Brown said.

Before approving the budget, commissioners addressed several changes in the county’s fee schedule.

They are as follows:

The industrial and commercial per ton tipping fee at the transfer station will be $65.51

The construction and demolition waste per ton tipping fee at the landfill will be $55.32

The transfer station tipping fee for incorporated municipalities in the county will be $65.51

Bulk construction and demolition waste at the landfill from a single source will be $50.32 for more than 2,500 tons within a 60-day timeframe

The residential collection fee will be $125.40

The availability fee per habitable dwelling will be $43.32

The disposal fee will be $52.41

The changes in the fee schedule were unanimously approved.

Budget highlights beyond the tax decrease include the following:

A 2.5 percent market adjustment for all full-time employees

Funding for each department to support and maintain current service levels

Funding for departmental unfinanced requirements

Additional school funding of $23 per student

Funding for pay for performance evaluation system

Absorption of increases such as health insurance and retirement

Some outside requests

Implementation of sheriff’s vehicle replacement plan

Funding for contingencies

Commissioner Patrick Qualls commended Brown and his staff. “It was a great job. You and your staff did a wonderful job.”

“It was a good year,” Brown replied.

Board Chair Vernon Bryant said afterward, “I’m very happy. We’ve got a lot of challenges in education and recreation, but we made the right decision with the budget. We’re giving the taxpayers a break.”