The Halifax County Board of Supervisors, led by Supervisor James Edmunds, voted to explore the possibility of a regional water and sewer authority at their Monday night joint meeting with the towns of South Boston and Halifax.
The vote came following a lengthy presentation by South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel and Finance Director Vandie Saunders.
During the presentation, Daniel and Saunders explained to board members why charges for county residents receiving services from the town were twice that of town residents.
The town manager said the town has lost substantial revenue due to the closings of plants in the area, and was in the process of repairing the town's aging water/sewer system.
"This is where we stand," Daniel said. "We have used $1.6 million from our general fund to pay our water/sewer bill, and just last year we spent $1.5 million to repair lines."
"So this year alone, $3.1 million was pulled from the general fund to pay for water/sewer," he added.
But Edmunds questioned the town's decision to double the rates for out-of-town customers.
"If this system is supposed to be self-sufficient, and you have been subsidizing the whole system, why haven't you raised in-town rates?" he asked.
Councilman Coleman Speece said town residents had been paying their part.
"In 1999, the water and sewer rates were increased," Speece said.
"This shortfall was being paid by town people, It was just a form of taxes," he added. "It just wasn't being labeled water and sewer."
Daniel said it isn't unusual for localities to use to charge higher rates to out-of-town users.
"The American Water Works Association methodologies recommend a differential rate that charges outside city users for the higher risks of owning the utility," he said.
The town manager cited a study conducted for the town in 1999-2000 that dictates rates needed to be increased to adequately reflect the cost of service, including capital improvements.
Daniels said localities across the state routinely charge at least double the rate for out-of-town customers.
Saunders said after the study was conducted, the town checked to make sure charges reflect accurate usage by the residents.
"We made sure we verified the numbers and proved the rates accurately reflect consumption," the finance director said.
"We had to make a subjective decision bases on water consumption," Daniels said.
What many out of town residents are upset about are the service charges that were implemented under the new rate structure.
"The service charge for in-town residents is $29.15, and for out-of-town residents is $58.30," Saunders explained.
Edmunds said county residents were questioning whether they were receiving services that justify the higher bills.
"I don't think anyone in this room would question the actual costs of their water and their sewer," Edmunds said. "What they do question is equity, and they don't feel like they are getting quite as much service for their rate as far as maintenance of the sewer system."
"I just showed you where we spent $32, 000 on Fordland alone, and we are going to be spending the same amount on Highland Hills and Oak Hills," Daniel replied. "And we are not going to do it with borrowed money, we are going to have to do it with system revenues.
"I just showed you all that in the previous years we weren't raising enough money to cover the expenses we were paying on the system," he added.
Daniel said the town has covered repair costs in county sewer lines.
"I don't know what else to say other than the fact that the sewer is flowing out of there, they've had problems and we've been in and fixed them. We've replaced lines," he said. "The corrective action we'll continue to support.
"We'll take care of it cradle to grave," the town manager said. "But we have to have operating revenue to be able to make the repairs.
"We're sitting at close to 50 percent ratio to debt service," the town manager said. "That's not a healthy financial situation.
"It came about because the system wasn't invested in, for whatever reason," Daniel added. "The money wasn't set aside and the proper maintenance wasn't done and the system was allowed to deteriorate.
"Unfortunately we're the generation where the bills come due," he added. "We're paying handsomely in town, and we're going to pay handsomely out of town for the sewer system."
Edmunds Presents Motion
Edmunds said he realized all localities had problems with their water systems and recommended a possible solution.
"I would like to put out on the floor a motion to study the viability of a regional water and sewer authority," he said.
South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy suggested that Halifax County look long and hard at the money it expended in the past studying the prospect of a water and sewer authority.
According to Edmunds' proposal, each locality would have a representative and the authority would be self-supporting.
"Each locality that receives water and sewer wouldn't be subsidizing those that cost more, and everybody's represented," he said.
But Edmonds said he wasn't considering hiring a consultant as in the past.
Edmunds said he would like to see the water and sewer authority set up by County Administrator Joe Morgan and his staff, working in connection with the towns.
"We're at a crossroads here with water and sewer," he said. "The county and town need to work together."
Edmunds noted the lack of representation for the county residents receiving town water and sewer is unfair.
"The county and the towns, I think, need to work together a little better," he said. "These people in this room don't have representation.
"They can't call us because we don't have anything to do with their sewer system, and they can't call South Boston because they're not in the town," the supervisor added.
Edmunds said his motion was just a proposal.
"I'm not saying its the right thing to do, I just think we need to look at it," he said.
The motion was unanimously passed by the supervisors.
Speece agreed the idea sounded good in abstract, but questioned the financial feasibility of the proposal.
"It's a good theory, but one of the things you need to keep in mind is these dollars are real dollars," he said.
"The dilemma the town has is that when you start expanding utilities to less densely populated areas, you get into terrific costs."
Speece said the town has been providing water and sewer service to out-of-town residents at a loss.
"For that out-of-town service, we've been paying more money than we've been taking in," he said. "And the money that's been supplemented has been coming from the South Boston town taxpayer."
Councilman Eric Roberts underscored Speece's point.
"That $3.1 million that got paid this year in debt service and in losses was paid by the people of South Boston," he said. "Out-of-town didn't pay that."
Public Comments Presented
Representatives from some of the communities in the county receiving water from the town were given a chance to address the panel.
"What we are confused about is the service fee," said J.D. Fitts of the Oak Hill community.
"We have no lines going into the town and don't cause any wear and tear on the system," he added.
Fitts said there have been very little if any repairs done to the Oak Hills system.
He questioned the use of funds generated by Oak Hill residents.
"The $58.30, I understand there are 289 customers outside of the town limits," the Oak Hill resident said.
"Out-of-town residents contribute over $101,000 annually," he added.
Fitts said the costs for the hook-up in Halifax was $53,292.
"That leaves $47,800," he said. "Where does that money go?"
Saunders said the net figure didn't include the amount of money the town has to pay to the town of Halifax.
"You're being billed on 2,000 gallons," Saunders said. "We're paying for more like 11 or 12,000."
"We have nothing going into your treatment plant, nothing going into your city," Fitts said. "I'm sorry you lost money with JPS, but these people are out of work."
Fitts said his opinion is the service fee is unfair.
"Why do we have to pay for the upkeep on your system?" he asked.
"We feel like this is outrageous.
"We have no say-so on town council," he said. "We feel like we've been abandoned by the county.
"We're asking for some relief from this," Fitts said.
"We don't expect it, but we're asking for it."
Edmunds said that attitude is part of the problem.
"That's the bottom line, we don't have any trust, no representation in the community," he said.
But Halifax Town Manager Bob Greene noted that Halifax just spend $1 million to upgrade their treatment plant.
"The federal government is part of the problem," Greene said. "It costs us for these DEQ unfunded mandates."
Greene suggested the towns of Halifax and South Boston study the problem.
"We are involved in work with South Boston," he said. "We've come a long way in providing the type of service that (Edmunds) is looking at."
Speece said he was surprised no one came to the council meeting where the rate increases were discussed.
"No one thought to invite us," Fitts countered.
Kitty Short of Webb Park said she was upset by the lack of representation for out-of-town residents.
"The people on our side of South Boston have no say in our bills or how the money is spent," Short said.
"How do you expect Halifax County to grow if we can't control our utilities?" she asked.
Mickey Vanny of the Webb Park community questioned the lack of representation.
"What's to say they can't cost us right out of our house?" he asked. "We have no say."
Vanny said that under the new rate schedule, a person outside the town limits is paying three and a half times what a person is paying on the same $100,000 home in South Boston.
"I have have no beef with South Boston but it's wrong what they are charging us," he said.

A 30-year dispute seeking state take-over and maintenance of King Village Trail will be taken to public hearing.
Supervisors took action Monday night in a 4-2 vote, but no hearing date was set.
Supervisor James Edmunds introduced the motion for a public hearing to consider condemnation of enough property to meet state VDOT requirements for King Village Trail.
Two supervisors, R.E. Abbott and Ronnie Vaughan, opposed the motion.
Abbott objected, saying that he wanted "all to be able to speak on the condemnation" issue, not have it limited to the King Village Trail debate.
Creating a precedent of condemning land was one issue as supervisors discussed options.
Joe Barkley, VDOT resident engineer, named right of way/utility relocation and the defining of a family subdivision as "the two unknowns" in the residents' quest for the road.
The resident engineer said that he would seek state guidance.
County administrator Joe Morgan said that a public hearing was not necessary to condemn land.
"A circuit court must decide the value of the land," he told supervisors. "It is a legal issue."
In 1991, VDOT's last file on the King Village Trail, an estimate of $131,850 was made for road work, according to Barkley's records.
Supporters of a state road for King Village Trail packed the conference room for the supervisors' session, staying late Monday night to make their point.
King Village Trail, a gravel road a little over one mile in length, runs from Love Shop Road east to about a dozen dwellings, according to Edith King Owen, a life-long resident of King Village.
Safety concerns for the children walking along the narrow road to the Love Shop Road bus stop were a recurring theme Monday night.
Residents said that snow or rain often make the road impassable for vehicles, and that neither school buses nor mail vehicles serve the road.
Edith King Owen, 83, who was born in King Village and still lives there, was the first speaker.
"I have tried 30 years to get a road," Owen told supervisors. "It is so rough at times, I leave the car on the highway and walk home. The road is impossible. They could not get the hearse down when my brother died," she said.
King Village resident Freddie Edmunds said there are 35 residents of Kings Trail and that five are disabled. He said 11 children attend public schools.
"We need medical vehicles to be able to get in," he said.
"Fire trucks have to check to come down," Edmunds said. He added that oil trucks also have trouble getting down.
"When the weather is bad, we get pro-rated (electric) bills," he explained.
"We just need some help. Stop creating ordinances to hurt taxpayers of this county," he said. "We're here tonight asking for your help."
Sharon Stevens told supervisors that it is one mile to the school bus stop.
"It is unsafe now to leave children at the stop for the bus," she said, citing fears of kidnapping and the busy King Trail, Love Shop Road and Cowford Road intersection.
"We are seeking a state-maintained road," she said, adding that school officials told her that the road was not wide enough for a school bus.
"We are asking for help to get a state road so our children can be safe," she added.
Yesterday, Gatha Richardson, a King Village Trail supporter, expressed his concern for the children's safety. "I am worried about the children," he said as he drove the long, narrow road.
The Rev. Roger Ford said Monday night that if one car meets another one on the narrow road, someone has to back up or pull off of the road.
"We have all of these people here in support of Kings Village," he told supervisors. "We are asking for a public hearing to let citizens know how we feel about King Village . We hope you do the right thing."
Lazarus Bates also spoke on behalf of King Village residents, noting supervisors have the right to condemn and that "30 years is a shame before God" in an effort to get a road for residents.
Harvey Dillard asked supervisors to "do the right thing."
Mr. Mohammed asked what the Halifax Board of Supervisors could do.
The county administrator said residents could participate in a secondary road hearing held in the fall when VDOT takes requests for road inclusion. He said the board could also explore funding.
David Martin, chairman of the board, named the main stumbling blocks to the road's inclusion in the VDOT system as right of way from landowners.
An ordinance concerning family subdivision was also addressed.
Freddie Edmunds asked if the village should not be grandfathered in since family have always lived there. "But everyone there is not family. We are landowners," he added.
Noting supervisors have the right to condemn land, it was suggested "you take it and we'll pay for it, the 22 feet" needed for VDOT inclusion.
Finding grant funding to help with the road was one Martin suggestion.
Detra Carr told supervisors that the people wanted a public hearing first "to condemn this man's land" and then they would will deal with VDOT and utilities. (Epps Lacy owns the property the villagers seek condemned. The landowner declined to comment on the issue yesterday.)
"Been asking 30 years," continued Carr. "Do the right thing."
The board did approve a secondary road addition at Milner Lane, one supervisor R.E. Abbott noted the residents had been seeking 20 years.
In other business, following public hearings, supervisors approved four separate proposals.
An application for a conditional use permit filed by Donna Ann Waddle, operating as Duck's General Store, to operate a community grocery and auto repair business on a 2.06 acre parcel located on the northwest corner of the intersection of State Route 57 (Chatham Road) and State Route 673 (Farmer Trail) was approved with the seven conditions imposed by the planning commission.
All supervisors approved the application - supervisors Tom West and Corky Rorrer were absent from the meeting, but Supervisor Bill Fitzgerald called for a motion to reconsider later that evening.
Fitzgerald, who publicly opposed the location of the auto repair business during the hearing phase, issued a call to reconsider the motion later in the meeting when he discovered the motion approved included the auto repair business.
However, Fitzgerald could not muster the needed votes, with other board members explaining that they thought the planning commission's conditions would address Fitzgerald's concerns.
Fitzgerald had cited "quality of life" issues in objecting to any future ABC permit sought as well as the mechanic shop.
Also, VDOT requires a commercial entrance at the site, Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator, told supervisors. Waddle said that she is talking with VDOT authorities.
Supervisors also unanimously approved a proposed county code amendment to increasing the lodging tax from 2 to 5 percent, with the 3 percent increase designated solely for tourism, its marketing and initiatives.
J.B. Tate, a River Road inn owner, supported the increase.
"Tourism is a big business. I know Halifax County has a lot to offer. Now is the time to promote it," said Tate, whose guests often include VIR participants and fans.
Nancy Pool, president of the chamber of commerce, also spoke in favor of the lodging tax increase.
She said the chamber mailed letters to all motels, restaurants, etc., and got no negative feedback.
"Tourism is a viable part of economic development," Pool said. "Tourism needs attention. We are missing opportunities."
The board unanimously passed the lodging tax increase.
Proposed amendments to the Halifax County Code to provide a tax on criminal and traffic cases and civil actions were also approved by the board with no opposition.
Amendments passed included assessing $5 as part of the costs of each criminal or traffic case in circuit or district court in which the defendant is convicted of a violation of any statue or ordinance, with these funds disbursed by supervisors to the sheriff's's office to help fund courthouse security personnel.
Also approved, to assess $25 on any individual admitted to a county, city or regional jail following conviction as part of the costs collected by the clerk of the circuit court and the clerk of the district court. These funds will be disbursed by supervisors to the sheriff's office to help defray the costs of processing arrested persons into local or regional jails.
No one spoke during a public hearing addressing the presumptive remedy (PPR) report required of the Halifax County landfill. The facility is located at 1090 Landfill Lane in Halifax. The PPR was written as a result of exceeding groundwater protection standards.
The public hearing was to acquaint the public with the technical aspect of the PPR report and how the standards and the requirements of the Virginia Solid Waste Management regulations will be met.
Finance Committee
The finance committee met prior to the Monday night board meeting, but with only two members present deferred action until the board's September meeting.
In other business, the Public Service Authority approved an engineering services agreement for Virginia International Raceway water and sewer service with Dewberry & Davis Engineers for $482,700.
Supervisors also authorized officials to increase interim and permanent financing for VIR water and sewer services based on the current project cost estimates with $4,323,700 the total cost.
""This includes soft cost, legal cost, right of way," county administrator Joe Morgan told supervisors. "Hopefully, this is a high figure."
Pittsylvania County is also part of the VIR development, with an estimated $1,357,100.

A High Plains Indian spokesman asked the county and the South Boston/Halifax County Museum to discontinue the museum's annual powwow, and sought a change in the museum's exhibit policy during supervisors' Monday night session.
No specific action was taken, but Supervisor David Martin, board chairman, urged continued dialogue.
Dante Desiderio, executive director of the Sappony Indians living in the High Plains Indian Community, called for changes, leveling a number of charges at the museum's board.
Desiderio told supervisors that he was there to clear up misconceptions about "our community and who we are," and in doing so begin a new relationship with the county.
Second, he said he wanted to make the county "aware of recent events that occurred at the South Boston/Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History that we consider condescending and unacceptable to our people."
The Sappony spokesman was accompanied Monday night by Tribal Chief Otis Martin and Dorothy Stewart Crowe, tribal chairperson.
Desiderio requested recognition of the tribe by the county and inclusion of the tribe in the exhibits of the South Boston museum.
He also said the tribe was offended by the current exhibit in the museum.
Desiderio asked that the museum discontinue the powwow, remove the current Native American exhibit and stop selling trinkets related to Indian heritage in its gift shop.
"We feel these exhibits are an insult," he told supervisors, adding that "we feel we have paid our dues and want a true history of the area."
"Excluded, ignored and discriminated against, the only Indian tribe in the county," he added.
He charged the museum, a private organization, with "blatant attempts to exclude us."
"We Sappony have never been consulted about the powwow in our backyard," he claimed.
He also said the event was being used to raise money.
Billy Royster asked Desiderio if it were true 20 tribes were participating in the museum's powwow scheduled this weekend.
"The purpose of the powwow is to let our citizens learn about Indian culture," said Carroll Thackston, a member of the museum board.
"My understand is that your tribe was invited to the first powwow," Thackston added.
During a museum board meeting last year, Desiderio said one board member described the delegation as "free issues," a term he said is a derogatory word to the High Plains Indians.
Thackston challenged the statement, saying he knew the man and that it was not meant in a derogatory manner.
Martin urged continued dialogue, adding that local governments were not composed of individuals wanting to discriminate for any reason against any ethnic, tribal or cultural groups.
Morgan suggested the matter be followed up by the Policy and Personnel Committee.
"The primary reason I am here is to get all the issues on the table," Desiderio said.
Museum Statement
"We invited the High Plains Indians of Person County, N.C., both years" to the powwow, Barbara Bass, museum president, said yesterday.
"We invited them to participate and share their culture with the community."
Asked about the museum's current exhibit, Bass said that it is one from the northeastern part of the county where the Dan and Staunton rivers come together.
She said that the exhibit includes arrow points, pottery, jewelry and other artifacts, and that it has been on permanent display several years.
"We have 29 books on Indian culture, some of which are written by Native Americans," she added.
"The museum takes pride in making the public aware of different cultures and encourages the public to attend its powwow at the Halifax County Fairground this weekend," she added.
She described the powwow as a celebration of different Native American cultures with 24 tribes from across the United States, including state-recognized tribes from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina
"Hundreds of powwows are held throughout the United States yearly, and in our area they are held at such locations as Occaneechi State Park, Clarksville, Elon - Monacan Tribe, Fort Lee, Charlottesville, Richmond Fairgrounds, Martinsville - Natural Museum of History and Tidewater- Nansemond.
The powwow this weekend is being organized and run by John "Blackfeather" Jeffries, a member of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Indian Tribe, a recognized tribe in North Carolina.
"Mr. Jeffries handles all registration for vendors and tribal participants. Anyone who is a Native American is invited and encouraged to participate.
"The local powwow was initiated by John Jeffries, a member of the museum, to help support the development of a permanent Native American exhibit at the museum," added Bass.
The museum president said that from the earliest days of the museum, presentations of Southside Virginia Native American culture have been an important and continuous part of its exhibits.
"The Virginia Department of Historical Resources is providing professional leadership for the content and representation of our Native American collection. With their guidance, the Native American collection will become a major permanent exhibit," added Bass.
"The museum is dedicated to being all inclusive in representing and presenting the diverse history and culture of Southside Virginia. The development of the museum's mission and its vision for the future has grown out of the community input and participating.
"The museum is excited about the unique opportunity it has to be a part of preserving, displaying and publishing the rich history of our community," Bass said.
The museum president also challenged Desiderio's funding challenge, noting the museum is due to receive $50,000 from the Tobacco Commission, which is industry funding, not taxpayers.

South Boston Del. Clarke Hogan urged Southside residents to not panic following an announcement by Gov. Mark Warner Monday.
"What we need to do is to take a deep breath and look at this thing carefully," the delegate said. "We need to remain calm and look at the situation."
Warner told the joint money committees Monday that the state is expecting an unprecedented $1.5 billion budget shortfall for fiscal year 2003-04.
"I'm not sure I would have expected the governor to say anything else," Hogan said.
But the delegate wanted to put the possible shortfall in perspective.
"The last biennial budget was $48 billion," he said. "This one is $50 billion.
"And now we find out that we only have $48.5 billion," Hogan said.
"That's still more than $500 million more than we spent last year," he added.
Hogan said it was important to look at the numbers in relation to the big picture.
"If you look at in the context of a $50 billion budget, $1.5 billion is only three percent," he observed. "I'm not going to make it into something worse than it is."
Hogan said he understood why the governor is forecasting the worst scenario.
"The governor has taken the most conservative forecast as possible, and that's what he should have done," he said.
But he said the forecasts were just that, forecasts.
"It will change.
"Whether it changes for the better or worse is very possible," the delegate said.
Hogan pointed out it's impossible to predict with any accuracy what will happen when the state is only six weeks into the budget.
"I think what we have here is a problem that 12-18 months from now will be less than it is now," he said.
During his speech before the House Appropriations, House Finance and Senate Finance committees, Warner outlined deep cuts in an attempt to reduce projected shortfalls.
Warner took action in anticipation of a budget shortfall that he said will substantially exceed $1.5 billion for the two-year budget that runs through June 2004, a development that will force state agencies to pare their budgets by as much as 23 percent, including layoffs.
''Make no mistake. Some institutions and agencies will close. Some funding streams may disappear. And there will be more layoffs,'' Warner told members of the budget-writing committees, who sat in stunned silence.
Hogan agreed that the shortfall would be felt.
"There will be some agencies and functions that may be done away with or combined," he said.
But there could also be a silver lining, according to the delegate.
"For those of us who believe government ought to and can run more efficiently, the cuts are a worthwhile project in itself," he said.
The governor's Monday announcement was reflecting the damage to Virginia's economy from a swooning stock market and related layoffs, according to the governor.
The lowered general-fund projection is the second since Warner took office in January.
Monday's projection suggested that revenues will fall at least another $1.5 billion from their forecasts.
The projected shortfall is in addition to $3.8 billion in cuts Warner and the General Assembly made in February to balance last year's budget and put together a new two-year spending plan.
''In plain English, this latest shortfall means that there is no general fund revenue to support $1.5 billion of the nearly $25 billion in general fund spending which was appropriated in the biennial budget,'' Warner told legislators.
''Since January, we have now faced a budget problem equal to $750 for each and every man, woman and child in the commonwealth of Virginia - a total of $5.3 billion,'' Warner said.
The governor told the group that he understood if they questioned the accuracy of the projections.
"This revised forecast is based on the latest information we have, past collection patterns and trends, and conversations and comparisons with officials in other states," he said.
To underline the severity of the deficit, the governor outlined a program that will cut spending for maintenance, travel and capital projects.
Warner will also extend the state hiring freeze and restrict the use of outside consultants.
"For any consultant contract not already signed, advance approval of the appropriate Cabinet secretary will be required," Warner told the group.
Warner said he has told state agency heads to prepare three separate budget cutting plans for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 to reflect cuts totaling 7 percent, 11 percent and 15 percent by Sept. 20. The cuts would be in addition to cuts of 7 percent and 8 percent already put in place for most agencies.
''The reductions we implement will not levy the same percentage cut for each agency.
"That's why I am asking for multiple plans from each agency,'' the governor said.
Some savings will come from eliminating redundant agencies and functions identified by the administration, legislators and a 13-member panel on government streamlining headed by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.
Warner rejected short-term recommendations made earlier this week until he can study their long-term impact.
Warner said he will immediately impose monthly spending limits on all agencies while the administration develops a permanent plan to deal with the shortfall.
Putting state agencies temporarily on an allowance will bring spending for such needs as travel, equipment and other costs to a minimum.
Spending limits for the state's colleges and universities will be set quarterly, the governor said.
The governor also said that the cuts will apply to some areas of the budget not funded through the general operating fund, including health care, higher education and aid to the indigent and disabled.
He included exemptions for non-general appropriations such as highway construction, maintenance and mass transit; unemployment compensation; and tuition, fees and sponsored programs for higher education.
Warner's speech left legislative budget writers hardened by more than a year of gloomy fiscal news.
''Once you use up all the creative solutions and the rainy-day funds, then you get into real cuts affecting real people,'' said state Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-Henrico, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and an accountant by profession.
What neither Warner, a Democrat, nor legislators of either party were ready to consider were taxes, including a possible boost to Virginia's lowest-in-the-nation 2 1/2 cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes.
But Hogan said yesterday that he was sure the governor's office was at least considering an increase as a means of balancing the budget.
"But how hard it will be pushed, it's entirely too early to tell," the delegate said.
Taxes won't be increased, Hogan said, "unless you can convince the legislature that core services are in jeopardy.
"But you're not going to scare us into that," he observed.
House Democratic Leader Franklin P. Hall of Richmond agreed that there was no legislative appetite for increasing taxes, even the so-called ''sin taxes'' on tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
Warner said he had no plans to reverse Gov. Jim Gilmore's car tax rollback. The final 30 percent of the tax was to have been phased out this year, but has been put on hold.

Halifax County High School football coach James Hodges looks for his team to improve each week.
And, with the countdown toward the season opener well underway, Hodges is hoping that the improvement will come in big chunks, especially among the younger players.
Hodges and his coaching staff will get to see just how much improvement the team has made when the Comets face Dan River High School here Friday night in the annual Benefit Game at Tuck Dillard Stadium.
"We're going to treat it as a scrimmage," Hodges said in the wake of last Friday night's scrimmage game against Nottoway.
"We want the kids to play. We need to fill some spots and we need to see who will step up and be able to help us."
The Comets "won" the scrimmage, scoring four touchdowns to Nottoway's one but there were still some questions left to be answered.
Halifax County's defense gave a good account of itself with the exception of the one big pass play that Nottoway sued to score its touchdown on the opening series of the scrimmage.
However, there is a question mark with the defense with regard to the linebackers, especially the two inside linebacker posts.
Jonathan Barbour and Ryan Conner have experience at the position at playing outside linebacker seem to have the inside track to the two outside spots despite some competition from Ray Owen and Daniel Barbour.
But the Comets have no experience at the two inside linebacker spots where Trad Moore, Ryan Gieselman, Clyde Brooks and Greg Ragsdale are competing for the starting nod.
"I think the jury is still out on the defense," Hodges said.
"Nottoway has a good team and they execute well. We're going to have to reach a little higher."
Offensively, the Comets, with its veteran offensive backfield featuring Karl Staten at quarterback, Alonzo Coleman at tailback and Dante Roberts at fullback, fared well.
Coleman scored two of the team's four touchdowns on runs of 38 and 63 yards.
A pass from Staten to tight end B.J. Pearce netted a 34-yard touchdown strike and reserve running back Brandon Richardson added the team's final score of the night.
"We executed well right off the bat on offense," Hodges pointed out.
"Last year in our first scrimmage against Nottoway, we didn't look real polished because we were using something of a new offense. We've straightened out some of those wrinkles and I think it showed in the Nottoway scrimmage.
"But, anything can happen," added Hodges.
"We've got to see if Dante can continue his pace, if Karl can run the offense the way it should be run and if Alonzo can continue to make those big plays."
Hodges also noted this week that he has been very impressed with the way players turned out for the varsity team this season and have stuck with the program.
"With 55 players, what can you say?" queried the Comets coach.
"That's the biggest turnout we've had since I've been the head coach. We're looking for one more jersey for one more player on the team. We'll find something for him to wear.
"If you'd have told me I'd have 55 kids on the roster three weeks after we began practice I'd have been shocked," concluded Hodges.

Irene Brown Clay

Irene Brown Clay, 87, of South Boston died August 20 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Clay was born in Halifax County on February 10, 1915, the daughter of James Robert Brown and Carie Peade Brown and was married to Howard C. Clay. She was a member of Centerville Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Artie Clay of Danville and Emmett Clay of Alton; two daughters, Annie Mae Bowen of Virgilina and Jean C. Dunaway of South Boston; two sisters, Clarkie Henderson of Burlington, NC and Adell Gainey of Mebane, NC; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mrs. Clay will be held August 22 at Oak Ridge Cemetery at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Richard Saunders conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:00.

Dorothy Irene Hunt Combs

Dorothy Irene Hunt Combs, 83, formerly of 604 Easley Street, South Boston, died August 16 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Combs was born in Halifax County on June 9, 1919, the daughter of Louis Hunt and Beulah Barnett Hunt Yancey and was married to Junious H. Combs. She was a member of First Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Ercelle Martin and Beverly Shaw-Jones, both of Halifax; three sons, Junious Combs, Vincent Combs and Ruben Combs, all of New York, NY; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one brother, William Hunt of New York.
Funeral services for Mrs. Combs will be held tomorrow, August 22, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. William Dixon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:00, and other times at the home of Ercelle Martin, 1082 Jones Store Lane, Halifax.

William Burnett Hazelwood

William Burnett Hazelwood, 71, of Northview Adult Home, South Hill, died August 16 at Community Memorial Healthcenter.
Mr. Hazelwood was born in Halifax County on October 17, 1930, the son of Thomas Watkins Hazelwood and Christine Powell Hazelwood. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include two sisters, Catherine H. Smith of Virgilina and Frances H. Conner of Glen Allen.
Graveside services for Mr. Hazelwood will be held today, August 21 at Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Jeff Jones officiating.

Hermon Womack

Hermon Womack, 79, formerly of Halifax County, died August 18, at St. Agney Hospital in Baltimore, MD.
Mr. Womack was born in Halifax County, the son of William Womack and Evelyn Barksdale Womack and was married to Thelma Petty Womack.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Ann Womack; two sons, Earl Womack and William Womack, all of Baltimore; one brother, Walter Womack of Baltimore; five sisters, Minnie Logan, Rachel Coleman and Bessie Pounds, all of South Boston, Ressie Royster of Richmond and Flossie Stokes of Farmville.
Funeral services for Mr. Womack will be held August 23 at 11 a.m. at Village Baptist Church in Baltimore. Burial will also take place in Baltimore.