Supervisors set a 4-cent real estate and an 85-cent personal property tax hike ceiling for budget advertisement May 20 during their Monday night session.
The Board, with Supervisor R.E. Abbott casting the only dissenting vote, also approved the mid-level budget expenditure option for advertisement.
"There is considerable work to be done," Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan said of the budget.
"We need to get down in it and dig. See where we can cut with as small amount of tax increase as we can while doing something for the schools.
"We need to set the advertised increase high to give us some leeway," Vaughan added.
He noted that supervisors can drop tax rates after budget advertisement, but they cannot increase rates.
The Finance Committee had developed three budget options.
The mid-level budget option added a 2-cent real estate tax and an 85-cent personal property tax increase.
The mid-level option would increase the contribution to the IDA by $160,054 to cover the cost of the IDA operation, but not its facility debt service.
The mid-level would increase the contribution to schools by $2.2 million, bringing the contribution to $12.1 million overall.
The proposal would also add $283,000 to general capital outlay for capital improvements.
The total general fund under the mid-level option is $24,095,850 with general operating funds at $9,815,642.
Capital improvements would rise in a mid-level funding option to $633,000.
"All other general fund departments would be held at or below current expenditures except for mandates," Morgan said yesterday.
"Things are so bleak in the county with unemployment and the state cutting its budget," said James Edmunds II, Finance Committee chairman.
"We have cut the local budget with the exception of the school system. We have used up the surplus and borrowed money. Basically, we are sitting at the bottom. We can stay there or we can begin building back up," Edmunds added.
Vandie Saunders, a Vernon Hill resident who serves as South Boston's finance officer, urged supervisors to assume "an attitude of conservatism and compassion," remembering citizens who have lost jobs.
Saunders continued to target the county's low estimates on expected revenue in various categories when compared to last year's actual figures.
"I hope that you will understand that my sole purpose for being at that (previous budget) meeting was to point out to you that it was my opinion that your revenues were underestimated and that expenditures showed a trend of increasing when cuts could have been made," Saunders wrote supervisors following last week's meeting.
Reassessment costs split over two years rather than a one-year expenditure was one example Saunders noted Monday night. "Another case of underestimating," he noted.
Prior to the budget advertisement vote Monday, Joe Morgan, county administrator, told supervisors that an additional $70,000 decrease in state funding for constitutional officers was reported.
Most of the cut is from the sheriff's office for office expenses, Morgan said.
Sheriff Jeff Oakes also s

Halifax County's 250th Anniversary celebration will get underway tomorrow night, beginning in the Town of Halifax at 6 p.m.
There will be live music, a Civil War living history exhibit on the courthouse lawn, and the Tinker's Car club antique car show at Booker's Plaza.
Sammy Watts and Friends will get the crowd moving when they kick off the musical entertainment at 6:30.
Kenneth Cranford will conduct local musicians in the Piedmont Community Band during its debut performance at 7 p.m.
Kyle Martin and Friends will entertain the crowd from 7:30 until 9 p.m.
There will be a grand balloon release from the library parking lot at 6:30.
The town's restaurants will be open during the events.
Halifax Courthouse Events
Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine will be the featured speaker during the formal ceremony held Friday at 11 a.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Halifax County Courthouse.
Kaine, who graduated Cum Laude from the Harvard Law School in 1983, is the former mayor of Richmond.
Kaine resigned as mayor of Richmond to run for Lt. Governor in 2001.
Prior to his election as Lt. Governor, Kaine taught legal ethics at the University of Richmond.
Judge Charles L. McCormick III will preside during the courtroom ceremony.
Delegate Clarke Hogan will present a resolution from the General Assembly and David Martin, chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, will issue a resolution from the board.
Judge William L. Wellons, chief judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Virginia, will issue the 250th Anniversary Order.
The Carolina Brass will perform on the courthouse steps prior to the ceremony.
They will be joined by the Piedmont Community Chorale in the courtroom for the musical presentations.
Three original compositions by Kenneth Cranford will be performed during Friday's formal ceremony, "Virginia, Virginia," "This Is Virginia," and "The Land of Four Rivers."
Andrew Bawtree, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in South Boston will deliver a dispatch from England's Ambassador, the David Booher, rector of St. John's Church in Halifax, will open the program with prayer.
Vintage Car Race
A vintage auto race featuring the East Coast Flatheads is scheduled Friday afternoon at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. Friday and admission is $1 per person.
The two vintage races are scheduled from 6-8 p.m., with the first race a 25-lap feature with no purse.
The second race, another 25-lap event, will carry a $12 purse, reflecting the purses when the vintage cars were racing.
The cars will be parked on the track between the races, and fans are invited to meet the drivers and see the autos.
About 12-15 cars that raced during the 1940s and 1950s are expected to participate in the event.
The event is co-sponsored by Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway and the South Boston/Halifax County Museum as part of the Anniversary celebration.

Another Halifax man has been arrested following Friday's raid on an alleged "crack house" in the Clay's Mill community.
Charles Edward Jeffress, aka "Dave," 22, of Paul James Road in Halifax was arrested Sunday and charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm while in the possession of crack cocaine and marijuana.
Jeffress is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail without bond.
Friday's raid was on the home of Edward Hane Poindexter, aka "Budroe," 53, also of Paul James road.
Poindexter was arrested and charged with four counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine following the raid.
He is being held in the Halifax County Jail on $100,000 secured bond.
Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Task Force said the raid was conducted by members of the Tactical Team of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, South Boston Police Department, and the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Pulliam said that there were approximately 13 people present in the residence when the raid took place.
One of the individuals was observed throwing a firearm and crack cocaine as he fled the scene, Pulliam said.
Pulliam identified the suspect as Cliffton Stephen Terry, 22, of Bane St. in South Boston.
"Terry was charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm while in possession of crack cocaine," Pulliam said of Friday's raid.
Terry is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail under a $50,000 secured bond.
Also arrested was Anthony William Mason, 23, of Reverend Coleman Rd. in Clover.
Mason was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and one count of distribution of crack cocaine.
Mason was released on a $10,000 secured bond.
Shaun Simon, 21, also of Reverend Coleman Road in Clover, was also arrested.
Simon was charged with possession of marijuana and released on a $3,500 unsecured bond.
"After the scene was secured, law enforcement seized approximately 20 firearms, cash, a substantial amount of crack cocaine and marijuana, TVs, stereos, VCRs, DVD players and various other electronics and vehicles," Pulliam said.
Pulliam said that the customers traded stolen merchandise, firearms and sex for crack cocaine.
He added that additional arrests are planned in conjunction with the raid.

Restaurants in the Town of Halifax will now be able to apply for a mixed beverage license, voters determined yesterday.
Voters overwhelmingly passed the referendum 145-50 yesterday to allow the sale of mixed beverages in the county seat.
In the four-way race for three seats on the South Boston Town Council, voters selected Ed Owens, Tom Raab and Eric Roberts to represent them on the council.
Ed Owens received 755 votes, Tom Raab earned 595 votes and Eric Roberts was elected with 497 votes.
South Boston Police Officer William "Bill" Ozmec received 357 votes.
W.C. "Buddy" Wilborn did not seek re-election for his South Boston seat, but he did receive one write-in vote in this election.
In the Town of Halifax, R. Leon Plaster, who was running unopposed, was elected to fill the seat of retiring mayor Dennis Osborne.
Plaster received 150 votes for the mayor's seat in the four wards in the Town of Halifax.
Cabell Daniel was elected to serve four more years representing Ward A.
Political newcomer W. Allen Stevens was elected to represent Ward B and fill the seat being vacated by Sam Thompson.
Both Jack Dunavant, representing Ward C and David F. Guthrie Jr., representing Ward D were re-elected to their seats on the council.
Ward A returned 26 votes for Leon Plaster and 50 votes for Cabell Daniel.
There were no write-in votes in Ward A.
Ward A had 23 votes for mixed beverages, and 25 votes against the proposal.
In Ward B, Leon Plaster got 26 votes for mayor, and W. Allen Stevens got 18 votes for his seat on Town Council.
Ray Hunter and Sam Thompson got one write-in vote each.
The mixed beverage referendum passed in Ward B with 24 votes for, and three votes against.
Ward C in Halifax cast 53 votes for Leon Plaster, and 52 votes for Jack Dunavant.
Carl Espy, Bill Confroy and Leslie Booher all received one write-in vote for mayor in Ward C.
Carl Espy received three write-in votes for Town Council.
Mixed beverages passed in Ward C with 49 pro and 13 opposed.
Ward D returned 48 votes confirming Guthrie to his seat on town council, and 45 votes for Leon Plaster's bid for mayor.
Sam Thompson led the write-in campaign for mayor in Ward D, receiving three votes.
Other write-ins for mayor in Ward D, Dennis Osborne received two write-in votes, Joann Ferrell got one write-in vote, and Mary Archer Osborne got one write-in vote.
The question of mixed beverages in the town received rousing support, with 49 "Yes" votes, and 9 votes against the proposal.
Daniel, Stevens, Dunavant and Guthrie ran un-challenged in this election.
The Town of Halifax has 820 registered voters.
Ten people were vying for six available seats in the Virgilina community.
John Youngk won another term as Virgilina mayor, defeating Stover Long Jr., 54 votes to 21.
R.E. "Ed" Chandler Jr., Mary Helen Gravitt, Lessie R. Hughes, Beverly S. Murray, Owen Murray Sr. and Thomas Keith Tuck were elected to fill out the Virgilina Town Council in yesterday's election.
Chandler received 54 votes, Gravitt gained 57, Hughes received 48 votes, with Murray receiving 55, Owen Murray received 57 and Tuck 50.
Michael Glasscock received 35 votes in the Virgilina race, Weston Hopkins gathered 13 votes, Stover Long garnered 18 votes and Myrtle Anne Smith received 29 votes.
The Town of Virgilina had 76 of 93 registered voters cast their vote in this election, giving them a 81.7 percent voter turnout.

The Halifax County High School girls softball team ran its winning streak to five in a row with a 2-1 and 7-1 doubleheader sweep of Western Valley District opponent Patrick Henry here Monday.
A bases loaded walk and steal of home after an errant pitch provided the winning margin in the first game, while Comet bats exploded for 12 hits and a four-run fifth inning in taking the second contest.
The Comets improved to 5-2 in the Western Valley District and 6-7 overall with Monday's wins.
HC 2, PH 1
Jennifer Roller scored on a bases loaded walk, Kristi Myer followed with a steal of home, and the Comets cut down the tying run at the plate as they beat the Patriots 2-1 in the opener.
Myer had a strong performance on the mound, collecting six strikeouts, while giving up five hits in five innings. She walked one batter.
The Comets scored both their runs in the second inning, after a key defensive play kept the game scoreless the inning before.
The second batter of the game for Patrick Henry doubled, but a good relay from Felicia Sprattley to Dominique Fountain to Emily Stolzenthaler at third cut her down as she attempted to stretch it into a triple.
Jennifer Roller walked to open the second inning, and Myer followed with a sharp grounder to the left side.
Roller was running on the play and beat the throw to second with Myer safe at first. Mashonda Dismuke then singled to load the bases.
Laura Gosney's long fly to right field was caught for the first out before a bases-loaded walk scored Roller with the first run. Myer slid home for a 2-0 Comet lead.
Emily Stolzenthaler hit a soft liner to short and Dominique Fountain grounded to short to end the inning.
A second key defensive play preserved the Comet lead in the fourth inning, after two consecutive Patriot singles and a fielding error left runners on second and third with no outs.
A groundout scored one run to make it 2-1, leaving a runner at third, who tried to score but was cut down at the plate.
The Comets collected five hits for the game, including singles by Fountain, Sprattley, Dismuke and Gosney, and a third inning triple by Lindsey Hastings.
HC 7, PH 1
The Comet bats came alive in the nightcap as they collected 12 hits, including two doubles and a triple, as they completed the sweep with a 7-1 win.
Fountain, Roller, Dismuke and Regan Cannon each went two-for three to lead the Comets.
Emily Pool went the distance, recording four strikeouts, while giving up two hits and walking one batter.
A double followed by a Comets fielding error gave Patrick Henry a brief 1-0 lead after one inning, before the Comets took the lead in the third.
With two outs, Hastings and Sprattley hit consecutive singles, followed by a double by Roller, as the Comets scored twice in the inning.
Cannon singled and later scored for a 3-1 lead, before a one-out triple by Fountain and an RBI groundout by Hastings made it 4-1.
Walks to Dismuke and Pool, combined with singles by Cannon and Fountain led to three runs in the fifth inning to give the Comets some insurance.
The varsity softball team has three key Western Valley District contests down the stretch to finish the regular season, the first at home Friday against E.C. Glass.
They play on the road against Franklin County and GW next Wednesday and Friday.

Hannah Elaine Womack

Hannah Elaine Womack, infant daughter of Harold Ryan Womack of Vernon Hill and Samantha Elaine Neighbors of Providence, NC, died May 1 at birth at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.
Survivors include her parents; maternal grandmother, Judy B. Neighbors of Danville; maternal grandfather, Sammy Neighbors of Providence; paternal grandparents, Harold J. and Marguarite Womack of Vernon Hill.
A funeral service for Infant Womack was held May 4 at noon at Wrenn-Yeatts Funeral Home, Danville with the Rev. David Bray officiating. Burial was in Danville Memorial Gardens.

Roy Lee Brumfield

Graveside services for Mr. Roy Lee Brumfield of 1025 Dougs Trail, Halifax, will be held Wednesday, May 8, at Halifax Memorial Gardens at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Brumfield died at his home May 3, 2002 at age 58.
He was born in Pittsylvania County on May 20, 1942 and was the son of Mr. Garvis Brumfield and Mrs. Amalie Mae Manning Brumfield. He was a member of Centerville Baptist Church.
Mr. Brumfield is survived by two sons, Michael Vincent Brumfield and Jonathan Wayne Brumfield, one sister, Francis B. Dawson, one brother, Ollie Layne Brumfield and one granddaughter, Cheryl Leanne Jones, all of Halifax.
Conducting the service will be the Rev. Frank Gooch. Arrangements are by Powell Funeral Home.

Mollie Elizabeth Hancock Tuck

Mrs. Mollie Elizabeth Hancock Tuck of 2177 Mountain Road, Halifax, died May 3, 2002 at her home. She was born in Halifax County on August 14, 1905 and was 96 years old.
She was the daughter of Mr. James Thomas Hancock and was married to Claude Edgar Tuck.
Mrs. Tuck was a member of Emanuel Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Tuck is survived by three daughters, Violet Perkins and Geraldine Coates of Halifax and Jean Matthews of South Boston; one sister, Bessie Keesee of Danville; six grandchildren, Oliver H. "Skip" Perkins Jr. of Lexington, N.C., Claudia Perkins of Virginia Beach, Kathryn P. Ferrell of Halifax, Jeanya Lynn Glascock Wylie of Mechanicsville, Jason Matthews of South Boston and Jannay Comer of Alton; twelve great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services for Mrs. Tuck were held Sunday at Powell Funeral Home with the Revs. Richard Saunders and Rudolph Jacobs officiating.
Burial took place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.