First, the bad news: Halifax County had to adjust its budget for funds lost in state budget cutbacks.
Second, the good news: Halifax County was honored for its 250th anniversary and its clerk was honored for a milestone achievement.
County Manager Tony Brown told board members today that because of state budget cuts it was losing the $18 a day for housing state inmates for more than 30 days and less than 90 days.
That equals $125,028 the county had to take from its fund balance, along with $17,000 it lost for jail medical payments, meaning the county had to transfer $142,028 to the county jail fund.
“Begrudgingly, I will make that motion,” Commissioner Rives Manning said. The motion passed unanimously.
The county also had to make up a $280,591 shortfall after the state took average daily membership funds away from Belmont Middle School in Roanoke Rapids and Weldon High School. That money was replenished through lottery funds.
Meanwhile, state legislators attended today’s meeting to present the board with a proclamation on the county’s 250th anniversary.
“I hope we change a lot in the next 250 years,” Senator Ed Jones said. “Two-hundred fifty years ago, no one probably thought we would be standing here today.”
The board also honored Hines for receiving the designation of master municipal clerk, a designation only six clerks in the state have received, Brown said.
Hines said during a break in the meeting it took six years to get the designation.
In other matters today the board:
-
• Honored Patricia J. Harris on her retirement from the Health Department.
-
•Approved a resolution declaring September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
-
•Heard a report from Economic Development Director Kathy Scott. She noted several potential clients have visited the county along with officials from the state Department of Commerce. She told the board she continues to do due diligence on the Virginia Wood project and is working on a funding application for an engineering study which would bring sewer to the Halifax Corporate Park.
