Citizens plead for lower taxes

Eighteen speakers took some 50 minutes Monday night to tell County Supervisors about their concerns with the County's advertised $98.4 million budget for the coming fiscal year. Of that number sixteen pleaded for lowered tax rates, pointing to what most described as doubled tax bills over the past five years. Weldon Anderson told Supervisors that County taxpayers simply cannot afford to pay the average 15.9 percent increase in taxes advertised to support the budget. "There's no end to what people want. People who work for the County have the best jobs and the best benefits, while the people working to pay for those jobs have the worst pay and the least benefits. We've got people living on fixed incomes of $7,000 to $12,000 annually." Gloria Crute of Nathalie echoed Anderson's remarks saying, "It's gotta' stop. Somewhere it's gotta stop. You gotta pull back and live like we

do." Describing himself as "an unhappy taxpayer," James Smiley said he believed the public comment period on the budget was held not because Supervisors cared what the public thinks, but simply because it is required by law. "Richmond doesn't mandate the building of new schools nor the selling of 100 acres of land for $1. You must learn to say 'the money is not available.'" A Chatham resident, Carroll Dodson, who owns farmland in Halifax County

pointed to the fact that taxes on his 179 acres of land had been $813.89 in 2003 while in 2007 taxes were $1,573.01 for an 89 percent increase. Noting that his wife owned farmland in neighboring Pittsylvania County he said her taxes had increased only three percent over that same time frame. Edwin Ferrell of Vernon Hill said property he bought in 2004 for $102,00 is now assessed at $212,000. "We are being forced to cut back

with our taxes more than doubled," he said. Jack Dunavant complained about the proposed increase of personal

property taxes, going from $3.30 per $100 value to $3.65 per $100. Dunavant said taxes on the equipment which he uses to make a living have almost doubled. "The wrong people are calling the shots," he said, adding that "the good jobs are going to people out-of-town. We have smart people here. Why don't we give these jobs to people here in the county rather than going outside?" Walter Cook, who owns two pieces of property in the County, but who does not live here, said he is paying a 20.2 percent increase on one piece and 16,8 percent increase on a second piece just to say "I own it. The only thing I see growing in Halifax County is the government," even with a smaller population than in earlier years. Thomas Hines of Nathalie complained about the loss of interest on his

money due to having to pay one-half of his real estate taxes in June since the Board voted to go to semi-annual tax collections for the first time this year. And he added "hiring two more people to collect those taxes means another $100,000 down the drain." Frances Lloyd simply told Supervisors, "I can't afford to pay more taxes and Dorothy Powell also pleaded, "Don't raise our taxes. It's creating too much hardship." Sandra Midkiff echoed their pleas. Noting that her family owns property that has increased substantially in value, she worried that her elderly

parents wouldn't be able to pay the increased taxes. "I'm asking that you cut taxes to help the people in Halifax County." Donnie McKinney of the Vernon Hill community said he, like the others, was concerned about the tax increases. "You represent us, and it's time for you to listen to us folks. It's (tax increases) got to stop. People

are living on fixed incomes." And if Supervisors don't listen to their constituents, McKinney said, "I'll do everything I can to help you out of office." Supervisors also heard Bernard Mitzler express his concerns about how

taxpayer money is being spent. He objected to giving away the 100 acres of land for Novi's wood burning power plant and free rent for the modeling and simulation center at Riverstone, but more than that the amount of electricity being used at Halifax County Middle School where, he says, the lights stay on twenty-four hours each day.

They also heard Mary Cook, the wife of earlier speaker Walter Cook, who was very skeptical of the recently announced plan for Novi Energy's wood burning power plant. She said she had called Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Mike Eades to ask what he knew about the operation of a power plant. She was interested, she said, since her husband had worked most of his life on power plants. "Eades knows absolutely nothing about wood burning power plants, by his own admission," Cook said. "You have no idea what it's like if you haven't been on the property (of a wood burning power plant)," she said, noting that the proposed location is very close to a residential area and a heavily populated section. "You need to take into consideration what the people want you to do with their money," she warned. Supervisors will once more hear comments tonight during a public

comment period that focuses solely on the advertised tax increases of a real estate tax of 48 cents per $100 value, and $3.65 per $100 for personal property. This year's real estate tax is 48 cents per $100, but with last year's reassessment of real estate increasing by an average 15.9 percent, that means that the average increase in real

estate taxes is also 15.9 percent. The current personal property rate is $3.30 per $100.