Halifax County proposes $167.17 million FY2027 budget, keeps real‑estate rate at $0.50

Halifax County Administrator Ron Brade presented a proposed FY2027 budget totaling $167,170,628 at a May 6 work session, saying the plan represents a $6,410,722 (4%) decrease from the FY2026 budget and requires $17,131,119 in carryover funds to balance because of large school capital projects.

Brade said the proposal keeps the real‑estate tax rate at $0.50 per $100 of assessed value — two cents higher than the county’s equalization rate of $0.48 after a Jan. 1, 2026 reassessment that increased taxable values by 4.74% — and leaves the personal property tax rate unchanged at $3.85 per $100. "The proposed FY2027 Budget totals $167,170,628 in all funds, a decrease of $6,410,722 or a 4% decrease from the FY2026 Budget," Brade said while reading the administrator’s May 4 budget letter.

The budget includes a proposed $18,253,948 transfer for school capital needs. Brade highlighted specific school capital items the proposal would fund: $870,000 for the ongoing school bus fleet replacement program and $1,989,622 for demolition of the former high school. Separately, the proposal presents a $16,600,000 athletic complex project supported by identified funding sources; Brade said that project is presented separately from the operating budget for coordinated consideration with the Board of Supervisors.

Staffing and operating changes in the draft budget include a 2% across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living increase for all full‑time county employees and funding requests for additional county administration positions (deputy county administrator, community information officer, IT professional, receptionist) and a part‑time grants capture officer. The County also proposes adding positions in central accounting (including recruitment for the finance director and requests for a procurement officer and human resources manager), a new staff position for the Commissioner of Revenue, and a new erosion and sediment control inspector in planning and zoning.

Public‑safety and operations items called for in the draft include funds to replace five sheriff vehicles, personnel funding to support full‑time operation of North Halifax VFD EMS service, purchase of a roll‑off truck for public works, and an oil collection and disposal unit. The budget maintains level funding for volunteer fire department contributions and provides funding for the county Drug Box program. Brade also noted a reduced Regional Jail Authority contribution of $159,000 due to lower bed usage by the county.

On revenues, staff outlined that one cent on the real‑estate tax rate is estimated to generate $459,024. Brade said the budget anticipates general fund revenues to increase by $3,359,825 (about 5.6%), driven by real‑estate tax revenues and local sales tax and miscellaneous adjustments. He noted that some capital projects remain under consideration but were not funded in the draft, including new generators for the E‑911 building, animal shelter improvements, a Halifax library roof replacement, construction of a new shop for buildings and grounds, and new snow removal equipment.

Brade thanked county departments and the Finance Committee for their work compiling the budget, and Interim Finance Director John Montoro clarified that budget figures are projections and that unspent funds typically carry forward into future fiscal years. Supervisor D. Witt thanked staff and county administrators for their collaborative work on the proposal. Because a quorum was not present, the Board did not adopt the agenda and took no formal votes during the work session; the presentation concluded and the session adjourned at 4:43 p.m.