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Halifax County board adopts FY2025–26 budget after brief debate on pay and amendments
Summary
The Halifax County Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget Tuesday after a presentation from County Manager Bill Denton; commissioners also approved six budget amendments and discussed salary compression and living-wage goals.
The Halifax County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget at its June 16 regular meeting, County Manager Bill Denton told the board, calling the adopted plan “the result of about 10 months of preparation” by staff and commissioners.
The motion to adopt the budget and the accompanying fee schedule was made by Commissioner Chenoa Richardson Davis and seconded by Commissioner Samuel Webb; the board approved the motion by voice vote. Denton said the ordinance and fee schedule presented in May had no further changes and that the budget reflects work spread across a budget work session, a formal presentation in May and a public hearing earlier in the month that drew no speakers.
Why it matters: The budget sets county spending levels and frames staffing and service decisions for the coming year. Commissioners also approved six budget amendments on the same agenda, enabling adjustments to carry out priorities within the adopted plan.
During the meeting commissioners discussed worker pay and a recent compensation study. Commissioner Silva urged the board to consider a living wage target of $18 an hour; Denton and other board members said the county recently completed a compensation study and that raising the minimum would create pay ‘‘compression’’ that requires broader, across-the-board adjustments. Denton said staff recommended setting a floor such that “no person in Halifax County make under $30,000,” and noted the board’s current minimum hourly rate is $15. He said the county will review revenue projections later in the year before proposing any across-the-board increases.
The finance director presented six budget amendments and the board approved them by voice vote after a motion from Commissioner Barbers and a second from Vice Chair Davis.
The board also scheduled outreach about the budget: Denton and the chair plan to discuss the adopted budget on local radio programs in the coming weeks. The board adjourned and set its next regular meeting for July 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
