Bertie County Budget Adopted

Last night at the Bertie County Commissioners Meeting, the final Budget Proposal was submitted for the coming year. It was clear that a great deal of effort went into protecting the interests of the Bertie County taxpayers. No rate increase is being adopted, and the impressive gains in collecting back taxes shows how diligently efforts are being pursued by county officials to be fair to all tax payers.

Bertie County Commissioners Dicsuss Budget

A most significant milestone in the growth of the county was attained when our property valuation estimate reached ONE BILLION DOLLARS this year. Even with this milestone, we are still a county that must be frugal with our dollars. One reason is that the state legislature still refuses to correct the unfair process to poor counties of requiring them to fund Medicaid. The way it is set up means that poor counties are damaged a second time by seizing a large portion of the revenue to fund this federal program. As noted in the Budget Proposal, "Currently Bertie County is ranked first in the State in per capita expenditures for Medicaid, and first in the State in its share of the budget required for Medicaid costs." Our county officials have no control over this and it constrains much else they would like to do for our citizens.

The budget amounts for Public Education are also growing dramatically in spite of the fact that our school system is shrinking. We had already committed to a huge increase in the debt service for the new middle school when those bonds were issued last year. That has raised debt service expenditures from the original budget amount for last year of $212,000 to the budget for this year of $805,000, a $600,000 increase. Stated another way it is 379% increase due to the new school!

The Board of Education simply ignored that already huge increase when they asked for the nearly doubling of the "current expense" amount with their recent submission. The county has agreed to a much larger increase for education than for other departments, but they have ignored the outrageous request and capped it at a 10% increase. Even so, the increase results in an overall education department increase of over ONE MILLION DOLLARS, or a 49% increase over last year. Based on recent experience though, you can look for the Board of Education and the Superintendent to complain it is not enough.

Commissioner Hoggard Presents Windsor Fire Chief Billy Smithwick With Check For Volunteer Organization

Other departments are being kept to a 6% increase.

Considering all things, the budget being adopted appears responsible and thoughtful. Our county officials and commissioners have done a tough job well.