While Halifax County received a clean audit report today, its financial situation at the end of this fiscal year remains questionable, County Manager Tony Brown said during a break in today’s commissioners meeting.

Today’s audit report, Brown said, “Demonstrated how much cutting we’ve done. We cut to the bare bones.”

Now the county must look at cutting programs which are not mandated, the county manager said.

“We’re looking at program cuts. We’re looking at a list of what’s mandated and not mandated. While the audit was (clean) it doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods.”

Marcie Spivey, an auditor with Martin-Starnes & Associates, told commissioners there were no findings and no questionable costs. There were no significant deficiencies or internal control weaknesses, she said.

While revenues were down, “Expenses went down even more,” Spivey said, noting a $1.8 million increase in the fund balance, putting it at 45.87 percent of expenses. “This gap increased when most are swallowing their fund balance. You had a freeze on spending. That freeze is what got you in this position.

Halifax County is not alone, Spivey explained to the board. Sixteen counties across the state increased tax rates an average rate of 3.3 cents.

There were 49 which did budget cuts while 44 did hiring freezes and 43 made staff cuts. “You guys are doing a good job.”

Board Chair James Pierce said, “We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

In other matters today the board:

Recognized the retirement of Health Director Lynda Smith effective December 31. Smith spent seven years as the health director and has spent 26 years in local government.

“Thank you on behalf of me and all the staff of the health department. We do want to serve the serve the citizens of Halifax County.”

Recognized the retirement of Wanda Davis as a medical records specialist in the health department, effective December 31.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said. “I started part time and it ended up being 31 years and six months. I really loved working at the health department.”

Recognized the retirement of Lieutenant Van Barfield with the sheriff’s office, which was effective November 20.

“He’s served just about every capacity in the county,” Sheriff Jeff Frazier said. “Van was responsible for collecting taxes. He collected a little over $3 million.”

Frazier presented Barfield his gun and lieutenant’s badge.