Some Roanoke Rapids City Council members Tuesday were hesitant to say whether they would support a tax rate increase for the upcoming fiscal year, but in the end conceded that if it were needed, they would.

City Manager Kelly Traynham told the council there would be a gap where expenses outweighed revenues. “We need to look at ways to increase that, and we do anticipate recommending an increase in the tax rate,” she said. “We need council’s guidance on that.”

The city manager made those comments as she reported on the first draft of her budget message.

“I would say I wouldn’t want to do it, but I would if it were needed,” Councilman Rex Stainback said following the meeting. “We’ll have the public hearing and we’ll be thinking about it, and collectively we’ll come to a balanced budget.”

Councilman Andy Jackson said he would be willing to support a tax increase if necessary, as did Councilman Curt Strickland.

Councilwoman Sandra Bryant said, “I don’t think we’re going to have much of a choice, but we’re also going to look at some things we can do. I really don’t want to be that one, but I don’t think we’re really going to have much of a choice. I think we need to look at anything that we can do without, or we may have to make that decision.”

Councilman Warren Keith Bell said, “We’ll see what we have at our next meeting. We need to go home and do some contemplating. We need to look back over some things from the previous years and look at where we’re at.”

Asked if he would support a tax increase, Bell said, “I’m like this about taxes: I believe in tax increases only when necessary — whatever’s best for the people and best for the community. That’s what guides my thoughts and that’s the way it should be. You don’t have a tax increase just to do it. It has to have a purpose and it should be strategic and targeted.”

Traynham said, “Ultimately, we’re either going to have to cut some services, reduce our burden, or increase taxes. There are things you can say you want to try to do, but you can’t approve a budget that doesn’t pay for everything you’re obligated to do.”

There are certain things cities are required to provide by general statutes. “There’s very limited functions that a government is required to have," Traynham said. "There’s preferred options we have in place because the city taxpayers have supported that — a professional fire department, a police department, a parks and recreation department.”

The city is mandated to have a planning and zoning function and a city administration department. “We’re making attempts to improve efficiencies, but it takes time to start realizing some of those efficiencies.”

Traynham said, however, she believes that things like changing the tax rate are “easier to digest when people can understand the purpose of it. We know we can’t cover the whole deficit, but we just want to try to relieve some of that.”