A county budget carrying a 10 percent real
estate tax hike and a proposed $1 personal property tax increase
was put before the finance committee yesterday in a $25.3 million
general fund budget.
This is the first reading of the budget as supervisors prepare
the 2002-2003 budget for public hearing.
"Anyone who has a comment about proposed tax increases should
call their supervisor," emphasized James Edmunds II, finance
chairman.
The budget committee is wrestling with the county's current economic
woes and service needs.
"Do we raise taxes to pay our debt?" asked Edmunds.
"Or do we reduce services, including school projects and
funding?"
"Whatever the taxpayers' feelings, I urge them to get involved
in this budget process," Edmunds said.
The budget proposed yesterday recommended a reduction in the county's
contribution to schools to $1,700,000, which is $700,000 less
than requested by the School Board.
"This will not prevent the School Board from meeting its
short-term goals, but will require the schools to use existing
capital outlay funds for current capital projects and debt service,"
said County Administrator Joe Morgan.
What effect would it have on the school system if there were no
tax increase this year?
"It would mean $3.6 million less to spend overall,"
replied Morgan.
In real estate, a phased tax increase was initiated last year.
Current real estate taxes are 40 cents per assessed $100 and would
move to 44 cents in 2002.
The personal property tax, $1.26, would increase to $2.26, raising
$2.7 million in additional revenue.
The county administrator suggested that the personal property
(car tax) tax be used to fund economic development, fire, rescue
and residential solid waste collection.
"Paying for these services with the car tax will create a
more direct relationship between the taxpayer and the service
received, since almost all households have motor vehicles,"
Morgan said.
A lodging tax of 5 percent was also recommended. The current lodging
tax is 2 percent.
The additional tax is allowed by the state if the proceeds are
used for tourism promotion. It is projected the current revenue
of $15,000 would increase to $40,000, if the increase were adopted.
The county administrator also emphasized that the year's budget
has a $4 million deficit, and although the change in the state's
composite index for school funding will return $4 million to the
county treasury, the existing $4 million debt must be paid.
Morgan also recommended that the $4 million in restored state
school funds be set aside for capital investments.
The proposed budget also suggested cuts in requests for funding.
"The agencies and departments funded by the Board of Supervisors
have requested $2.7 million in new funding," advised Morgan.
"These requests cannot be met in a single years.
Highlights of the proposed budget include the following:
· Cautions against long-term use of the $4 million restored
state school funds for operation expenses, since such use could
likely return the county finances to an extreme deficit once the
restoration ends;
· Continues the phased increase in the real estate tax
of 10 percent until the budget is balanced and reserves restored.
· Uses the personal property tax to meet recurring operational
costs and to allow use of the restored state school-funding windfall
to meet capital and one-time expenses.
Use of the personal property tax would reduce the impact on the
real estate tax paid by farms and businesses.
The budget holds most general fund operating expenditures within
current levels, with the exception of the regional jail, economic
development, volunteer fire departments and volunteer rescue squads.
The proposed budget would also provide 6 percent staff compensations,
Morgan said, noting that no changes in pay and benefits have been
made in a year and a half.
Revenue Estimates/
Recommendations
Locally controlled revenues are projected to increase less than
one and one-half percent, yielding $292,980 more than the current
fiscal year budget, according to county staff.
This projection assumes continuation of the 10 percent per year
raise in the real estate tax rate started last year, Morgan explained.
All other revenues are projected at current tax rates.
A loss of $346,251, or 11 percent in non-local, categorical revenues
(state and federal designated funds the county does not control)
is projected. General Fund revenues are virtually flat, according
to Morgan, with an expected loss of about one-quarter of 1 percent.
Several tax changes are proposed in the budget to increase revenue
and to keep county tax policy in line with practices in other
localities, according to Morgan.
Other recommendations included the following. Instead of county-wide
implementation of use value assessment (land use taxation), consideration
of encouraging agricultural and forestall districts is recommended.
Those districts may be better suited to preserving specific areas
of the county for agricultural use and protecting against unwarranted
development, according to Morgan.
Tax Relief
The budget proposal also carried tax relief via a farm machinery
exemption and an elderly and disabled exemption.
On Monday at 3 p.m. the finance committee will hear agency representatives
regarding requests.
The public hearing on the budget is tentatively scheduled for
Monday, May 20, Morgan said yesterday.
Two area men were convicted Monday in Halifax County Circuit
Court of the assault and battery of a police officer in separate
incidents.
Samuel Wayne Lancaster, 18, of Halifax, was convicted of the assault
and battery of two South Boston police officers, S.L. Warf and
Dennis W. Barker.
The alleged offense occurred September 29 of last year.
The commonwealth nol prossed two additional misdemeanor charges
against Lancaster, one alleging obstruction of justice and the
other alleging destruction of personal property.
Judge William L. Wellons sentenced Lancaster to one year in jail
on each of the two convictions, suspending all but six months
of each, to run together for an effective jail term of six months.
The suspended portions of Lancaster's sentence were conditioned
upon his good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Lancaster to be placed on supervised
probation for six months and ordered him to make restitution to
his victims.
Work release was authorized for Lancaster.
· George Edward Bass, 66, of South Boston, was convicted
on an amended indictment of the assault and battery of police
officer D.H. Barksdale.
Bass was remanded to custody to await sentencing in the May term
of court.
· Jerry Lorenzo Faulkner Jr., 27, of South Boston,
was convicted Monday of a single amended indictment of a subsequent
offense of cocaine distribution.
Following a bench trial, Judge Wellons found Faulkner not guilty
on two additional amended indictments alleging a subsequent offense
of cocaine distribution.
Faulkner's prior bond was revoked and he was remanded to custody
to await sentencing in the May term of court.
·John Duane Woodward, 39, of Halifax, was convicted Monday
of a subsequent offense of DUI during a disposition hearing.
Judge Wellons ordered Woodward to remain free on bond under supervision
of Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services until sentencing in May.
The finding of blue mold just north of Raleigh in Franklin
County, N.C., and the discovery late Tuesday of what scientists
suspect is blue mold in Nottoway County, Va., has put tobacco
seedlings at risk for Halifax County growers.
"This is a serious threat to the seedlings being grown now,"
Halifax County Extension Agent Larry McPeters said yesterday.
He added that the early detection of the disease so close to Halifax
County increased the risk of the disease becoming systemic.
"If the disease becomes systemic, it can kill apical cells,
which are responsible for new growth," he said.
But farmers have one weapon to combat the disease.
"We have one good fungicide, but it has to be on every leaf
of every plant before the spores get to the plant," McPeters
said.
The fungicide, McPeters said, is Dithane DF.
"The concentration that producers want to use is 1/2 lb.
of Dithane per 100 gallons of water," he said.
Farmers should spray their plants to the point that they see run-off.
"They must make sure that all the leaves are covered, so
the best way is to spray after they clip the plants," the
extension agent said.
He said that one of the most important instructions is that farmers
need to apply Dithane DF every five to seven days.
"Farmers need to remember that Dithane only protects the
leaves that its on," McPeters warned. "Any new growth
isn't protected.
The extension agent warned that producers need to monitor their
plant beds and greenhouses daily to check for the disease.
"The first indication will be yellowed plants with leaf lesions
( circular, light pale areas on the leaf)," McPeters said.
"Other diseases cause similar symptoms, but if you turn the
leaf over, you can see blue mold growing on the bottom of the
leaf, and that means that the disease is in its reproductive state,"
he added.
McPeters also said that the threat was real enough that researchers
were afraid to move plants for an on-going research project yesterday.
"Blue mold is a fungus that targets the older leaves of a
plant and works its way up the stalk," the extension agent
said.
"If a mature leaf gets seven lesions on it, it will dry up
and die," he added.
McPeters said that the disease is spread by wind currents.
"What we're worried about right now is the greenhouses and
plant beds, because when it's hot like this, producers open the
side curtains, placing plants at risk."
He added that greenhouses and plant beds were the perfect environment
for the incubation of the disease.
"It is a very moist environment that has a high population
of plants per feet," he said.
McPeters pointed to a severe outbreak in 1979 to show how the
disease has mutated.
"In 1979, there was a severe outbreak affecting crops from
Florida to Ohio, but at the time we had something to fight it
with," he said.
Now, the fungus has developed a resistance which makes it a "completely
different animal to deal with," the extension agent said.
"At the time, we used Ridomil, and that fought the disease
systemically, but we don't have anything to combat a systemic
infestation any longer," he said.
McPeters said that the disease has become less dependent on water
and heat as well.
"The disease used to die out at 85 degrees, but now it can
be found in very hot and arid conditions," he said.
He warned that during an outbreak of the disease, whole plants
could be destroyed.
"This is going to be a real battle this year," the extension
agent said.
Normally, blue mold starts in South America and works its way
to the U.S., beginning in Florida.
"But its popped up real close, real early this year. Normally
we don't see it until June," McPeters said.
A one-man protest of the delay in construction of the Halifax
County War Memorial is stirring the cauldron of controversy once
again, this time over the location.
"This mudhole has been a disgrace to our veterans and our
war heroes, and I'm here to protest the lack of action on the
part of the county," Frank Booker III said yesterday.
The Halifax County businessman said that he made a "considerable
contribution" to help fund the project, and was shocked to
see that nothing had been done."
"This is county property, and it strikes me as odd that the
county would choose to leave this mudhole here as we are preparing
to celebrate our 250th anniversary," he said.
Booker was on the corner of Main Street and Mountain Road yesterday
morning carrying a placard that read, "This mudhole is a
crying shame! Why won't Joe Morgan (County Administrator ) fix
it?"
On the placard was the familiar face of Chief Ironeyes Cody, the
well-known proponent of environmental issues.
As Booker was being interviewed, a tractor began tilling the land
in question.
"I don't know what they're doing," Booker said.
Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator, said that the
property was being seeded.
"We are re-seeding and re-fertilizing the property,"
Lovelace said.
"We seeded the land once about three weeks ago, but the seeds
didn't germinate," he added.
Lovelace said that this time, the county has made arrangements
to water the property.
Booker said that he doesn't only want the property covered in
grass, he wants to see the memorial completed.
"I made my contribution three years ago...it's been three
years!"
"Unfortunately, men and women who served this country, particularly
during World War II, are dying every day, and they deserve to
see this completed," he said.
Booker said that he wants to see a site plan posted on the site,
along with a schedule of the work activity.
"The only fixed date that can be put on such a notice would
be November 11," Lovelace said, referring to the deadline
for completion.
"The county's position is that we are waiting final documentation
for review," he said.
He added that the plans for the memorial have been approved by
the Board of Supervisors, and that the county is awaiting further
documentation.
War Memorial Commission member Larry Clark said yesterday that
County Administrator Joe Morgan was consulting with VDOT regarding
changes to the sidewalk at the site.
"Things are progressing in an orderly manner," Clark
said. "Maybe not as fast as people would like, but there
are procedures that have to be followed."
Commission member Jack Dunavant said yesterday that he had received
the architectural plans that reflected changes the Commission
wanted to make.
"We have a meeting set today to review the drawings and make
sure all the changes were incorporated," Dunavant added yesterday.
"We are going to put this memorial up, very quickly,"
he added.
Dunavant said that he didn't understand why Booker was protesting
the county.
"You can lay the blame on the Halifax Woman's Club,"
he said.
"They think they own the world, but don't know how to run
it."
A spokesperson for the Halifax County Woman's Club declined to
comment yesterday.
Lovelace said that once the final design is approved, a soil test
will be conducted to determine the type of foundation the structure
will need.
"The Board of Supervisors stated in 2001 that the plans would
need to be reviewed by the county engineers to ensure the structural
integrity, lighting and other safety and access issues were being
taken care of," the assistant county administrator said.
Booker questions whether plans are being followed through.
"I'm not convinced that anyone is in charge of this thing,"
he said.
"I know that they have a finish date set for November 11,
but when is the start date?"
"I've seen no start date, and unless you know when you're
going to start, how can you possibly know when you're going to
finish?"
Single runs in the first and sixth innings weren't enough for
the Halifax County High School varsity softball team in an 8-2
loss to Person Monday in Roxboro.
Mashonda Dismuke went 2-3 at the plate and Lindsey Hastings went
1-3 with a triple, and scored both her team's runs to lead the
Comets.
Emily Pool went the distance for her first complete game of the
season. She gave up 12 hits while striking out one batter, and
issued no walks.
"We're hitting the ball more solid," said coach Melanie
Saunders.
"Fundamental miscues led to some runs and movement of baserunners
for Person."
The Comets took an early lead in the top of the first inning,
as Hastings walked with one out.
A Person throwing error allowed Hastings to advance to third,
and she scored on a groundout.
Person tied the game in the bottom of the second on two consecutive
doubles with two out, before taking the lead in the third inning.
A two-out double, followed by a single plated the run that gave
Person the lead, 2-1.
The Comets tried to get the run back in the top of the fifth inning,
as Dismuke singled. She was sacrificed to second by Kristi Tuck
and took third on a Person error before Pool struck out and Kristi
Myer grounded out to end the inning.
Person broke the game open in its half of the fifth inning, as
three hits, a passed ball and an error by the Comets yielded four
runs for a 6-1 lead.
Hastings led off the sixth inning with a triple and scored on
a flyout to score and cut the lead to 6-2, before Person scored
two runs in the bottom of the inning on two more doubles and a
single.
Dismuke led off the seventh inning with another single, but caught
stealing for the first out. Tuck struck out and Jamie Anderson
grounded out to end the game.
The varsity softball team, now 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the Western
Valley District, plays a non-league game today at home against
Holy Cross.
Bobby Hagood Hudson, 66, of 2085 Mountain Road, Halifax, died
April 14 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mr. Hudson was born in Halifax County on February 7, 1936, the
son of Norman Banks Hudson and Nannie Hite Hudson and was married
to Judith Noblin Hudson. He attended the Freedom Worship Center.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Anthony Hudson of Grafton,
Victor Hudson of Alton, and Linwood Hudson of Sterling; two stepsons,
Jerry A. Powell of Clarksville and Edward Dean Wilborn of Tallahassee,
FL; one half -sister, Frances Cole of Cluster Springs; four grandchildren;
and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one brother,
Ray Hudson; one half-brother, Cecil Richardson and one stepdaughter,
Mary Evelyn Powell Constable.
Graveside services for Mr. Hudson will be held today, April 17
at Liberty United Church of Christ Cemetery at 11 a.m. with the
Revs. Paul Ferguson and Ricky Whitlow officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Freedom
Worship Center Building Fund, c/o Rev. Paul Ferguson, 428 Williamson
Road, Danville, 24540, or the Alzheimer's Foundation, PO Box 310,
South Hill, 23970.
Genelle Carroll Shotwell, 74, of 2035 Coleman Road, Scottsburg,
died April 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Shotwell was born in Halifax County on October 28, 1927,
the daughter of James H. Moorefield and Lester Guill Moorefield
and was married to Alfred A. Shotwell. She was a member of Scottsburg
Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Amanda Hodnett and husband, Eugene
of Republican Grove; three sons, Billy Carroll, David Carroll
and wife, Maria, and Mark Carroll, all of Scottsburg; two grandchildren,
Wendy Genelle Hodnett of Graham, NC and Walcy Carroll of Great
Lakes, IL; three sisters, Frances Fulp of Turbeville, Patsy Fitz
of Red Oak and Joyce Allred of Nathalie; and one brother, James
H. Moorefield Jr. of Nathalie. She was preceded in death by one
sister, Margaret Fallen.
Services for Mrs. Shotwell will be held today, April 17 at 2 p.m.
at Scottsburg Baptist Church with the Revs. Dr. Jerry Jordan and
Bob Richards officiating. Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery.
Flave Alexander Williams Jr., 74, of 8183 James D. Hagood Hwy.,
Scottsburg, died April 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Williams was born in Halifax County on September 26, 1927,
the son of Flave A. Williams Sr. and Rena Lacks Conner Williams
and was married to Margaret C. Williams. He was a member of the
Church of God of Prophecy.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Patsy Owen of Halifax;
two sons, Johnny Mack Williams of Scottsburg and Flave A. Williams
III of Tampa, FL; one stepson, William Paxton of Scottsburg; eight
grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five sisters, Florence
Davis of Gretna, Dot Snead and Myrtle Day, both of South Boston,
Fannie Aman of FL and Mary Anderson of Richmond; three brothers,
Charlie Conner of South Boston, Clinton Conner of Newport News
and Bobby Conner of Richmond. He was preceded in death by his
first wife, Lucille Seamster Williams.
Services for Mr. Williams will be held today, April 17 at 2 p.m.
at Church of God of Prophecy with the Rev. Courtney Couter officiating.
Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
James Oliver Scott, 81, of 1041 Juniper Street, Clover, died April
13 at The Woodview Nursing Home.
Mr. Scott was born in Halifax County on July 30, 1920, the son
of the late Edgar Scott and Sissy Guthrie Scott and was married
to Gracie Cosby Scott. She was a member of St. Matthew Baptist
Church.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Susie Ervin of Clover
and Betty Sue Henry of Richmond; one son, Roger Scott of Baltimore,
MD; 26 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren;
three stepdaughters, Sarah Blanding and Deborah Hill, both of
South Boston, and Agnes Green of Danville; one stepson, Clyde
Hill of Richmond; one sister-in-law, Viola Scott; and a devoted
cousin, Emily Lacks.
Funeral services for Mr. Scott will be held April 18 at 2 p.m.
at St. Matthew Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church
cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Irene Kirby Palmer, 69, of Danville, died April 15 at Danville
Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Palmer was born in Halifax County on January 3, 1933, the
daughter of the late Garnet Kirby and Irene Richardson Kirby and
was married to the late Hugh Palmer. She was a member of Union
Grove CME Church.
Funeral services will be held April 18 at 11 a.m. at Union grove
CME Church in Halifax with the Rev. Jamal Reed officiating. Burial
will follow in the church cemetery.
Surviving Mrs. Palmer are two daughters, Cornelia N. Jones of
Halifax and Brenda P. Miller of Danville; two sons, Lawrence W.
Palmer and Clarence W. Palmer, both of Danville; two sisters,
Hester Mosley of Halifax and Mamie Edmonds of South Boston; and
16 grandchildren.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Cornelia N. Jones,
1009 Height Trail, Halifax.
Frances Hill Whitmore Clauden, 75, of 1168 Cherry Hill Church
Road, South Boston, died April 12 at her home.
Mrs. Clauden was born in Union, SC on October 25, 1926, the daughter
of the late Larry Austin and Chaney Hill Bentley and was first
married to the late Allen Whitmore and later married the late
Floyd E. Clauden. She was a member of Owens Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include her brother and sister-in-law, John and Shirley
Clauden of South Boston; devoted niece and nephews, Mary Williams,
Willie Williams and Frank Clauden, all of South Boston; and devoted
friends, Mattie Morton and Joan Bowers.
Funeral services for Mrs. Clauden will be held April 19 at 2 p.m.
at Owens Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. John Leigh officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Nellie Ruth Blackstock Leonard, 74, of Greenville, SC, died April
12.
Mrs. Leonard was born in Greenville the daughter of the late Ben
and Pearl Cody Blackstock, and was married to the Rev. James B.
Leonard Sr. She was a housewife and a member of Praise Cathedral
Church of God.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Charlotte Ann and
Jeanne Leonard, both of Greenville; two sons, the Rev. Dr. Bill
Leonard Jr. and his wife, Luann of South Boston, and Tim Leonard
and his wife, Denise of Greenville; half brothers, the Rev. Preston
Blackstock and Silas Blackstock, both of Greenville, the Rev.
Paul Blackstock of Simpsonville, SC and John Blackstock of FL;
nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and three stepbrothers.
Services for Mrs. Leonard were held April 15 at 12:30, at Praise
Cathedral Church of God with burial in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Rose Marie Gilleland of Richmond, formerly of South Boston, died
April 14.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Gilleland Jr.; one daughter,
April Marie Gilleland; one son, John Mark Gilleland; her mother,
Isabel C. Flory; and one sister, Diana G. Snead of South Boston.
She was preceded in death by her father, E. Conrad Giles.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gilleland will be held at 11 a.m. today,
April 17 at Monument Heights Baptist Church, Richmond. Entombment
will be private.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Music
Ministry of Monument Heights Baptist Church or Bon Secours Hospice.