Halifax County commissioners opted tonight to take $2.072 million from its fund balance to save cutting jobs and hours.

It was a decision County Manager Tony Brown said he struggled with, not wanting to use fund balance to support operations but considering the situation the county is in an emergency.

The move saves 23 full time employees from having their hours cut, two full time positions from being cut and two part time positions from being cut.

The move also gives the county a draft financial plan for the next fiscal year in the low $30 million range which is balanced. The tax rate remains unchanged at 68 cents per $100 of valuation.

The move, however, leaves several requests slashed. The Choanoke Area Development Association will see its request cut 10 percent, the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council will only get $50,000 and no money was budgeted for the Roanoke Rapids Main Street program.

“In an effort to maintain morale for employees, County Manager Tony Brown included funds to pay longevity in the upcoming year, even though it increases the amount of fund balance that is being used to balance the budget,” a county press release says.

Longevity rewards are given based on an employee’s years of service to Halifax County. Employees are eligible to receive a small percentage of their salary after five years of service and a larger percentage after 10 years of service.

Brown told commissioners the decision to use fund balance “was quite a difficult task.”

While commissioners approved the measure, board member Gene Minton said it should be the last time it is done. “If things don’t improve next year we’ll have to look at the whole operations.”

The county already adopted some savings measures this fiscal year, the press release noted. The county is saving up to 70 percent in costs by requiring employees to use county vehicles if available for travel. It also combined Human Resources, Aging and Veterans into Human Resources Management.

Driving the lean budget are sales taxes which are down by 28 percent and a 78 percent reduction in interest earned accounts, Brown said following the meeting, along with a poor economy.

Other highlights of the budget include:

• Property tax collections have been consistent

• Current year 1.4 percent reductions in total budget

• Schools got cut by 3 percent as well for the current year, including HCC

• The tax collection rate is between 95 percent to 96 percent.