The Halifax County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 5 to delay taking action on a long‑running accumulation of earned revenue in the county health department and asked health staff to return with a concrete spending plan.

The board’s discussion followed public comment from Health Director Cheyenne James, who said she only learned shortly before the meeting that the item on the county manager’s report concerned the “determination of status of excess revenue” held in the health department’s fund. James said she was unclear whether the board intended to use those earned funds to replace the county’s general‑fund allocation, warning that doing so could undercut planned expansions and services the health department had delayed while operating under the belief that it lacked funds.

County staff and legal counsel told commissioners that state rules require fee and earned public‑health revenues to be used for public‑health purposes and that those revenues should not simply be treated as unrestricted general‑fund dollars. Attorney Rollins said the county must bring the department’s accounting practice back into alignment with the state consolidated agreement and that leftover earned revenue should be appropriated for public‑health use in subsequent fiscal years rather than sit unspent.

Commissioners expressed frustration that the accumulation had persisted for years without clear reporting and that department leaders had adjusted programs and hiring decisions on the assumption funds were unavailable. Several commissioners said they wanted to use the money to expand services in underserved areas, but others emphasized fiscal oversight and the need for a carefully justified plan.

Motion and next steps: Commissioner Jimmy Silva moved — and Commissioner Webb seconded — a motion to table further action and require the health department to return with a realistic plan detailing how the excess revenue would be spent to improve health outcomes in Halifax County. The motion passed 4–2. The board asked staff to treat the balance as restricted for public‑health purposes in accounting until a plan is adopted. Commissioners emphasized that significant new recurring programs or staff would be considered only through the regular departmental budget process and would require specific justification.

What happens next: County management and the health director were directed to prepare a detailed plan and budget requests for review at upcoming departmental budget meetings. Legal counsel said staff will draft a formal policy to ensure earned public‑health revenues are spent in the fiscal periods when they are earned and to prevent similar accounting gaps in the future.

The board’s vote leaves the $6 million identified by staff earmarked for public‑health use but postpones any specific appropriations until the health department returns with a prioritized, itemized plan.