Rockingham passes fiscal budget

WENTWORTH – The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved next year’s $84.9 million budget after a public hearing Tuesday night where no member of the public signed up to speak.

To balance the budget, county jobs were cut, a sales tax was defeated by public vote and funding to outside agencies was reduced. Commissioner David Isley said he believed light turnout was tacit approval of the first balanced county budget in years.

“I think the reason we’ve not had anyone to sign up to speak tonight is because the county staff has done an outstanding job,” Isley said.

Commissioners Bobby Stanley, Harold Bass, Bert Jones and Ameila Dallas also thanked county administration staff for work done on the budget, and to the department heads willing to do more with less while money is limited.

“I’m very excited about it because it’s the first time in four years that we’ve had a balanced budget without raising taxes or taking money from the emergency fund balance,” Jones said.

Commissioners hesitated over water and sewer increases for utility customers in Wentworth. The county buys water and sewer service from Eden for Wentworth residents. In February, the Eden City Council voted to increase water and sewer rates across the board, forcing the county to raise rates to compensate.

To balance the budget, county jobs were cut, a sales tax was defeated by public vote and funding to outside agencies was reduced. Commissioner David Isley said he believed light turnout was tacit approval of the first balanced county budget in years.

“I think the reason we’ve not had anyone to sign up to speak tonight is because the county staff has done an outstanding job,” Isley said.

Commissioners Bobby Stanley, Harold Bass, Bert Jones and Ameila Dallas also thanked county administration staff for work done on the budget, and to the department heads willing to do more with less while money is limited.

“I’m very excited about it because it’s the first time in four years that we’ve had a balanced budget without raising taxes or taking money from the emergency fund balance,” Jones said.

Commissioners hesitated over water and sewer increases for utility customers in Wentworth. The county buys water and sewer service from Eden for Wentworth residents. In February, the Eden City Council voted to increase water and sewer rates across the board, forcing the county to raise rates to compensate.