482-4418 Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Happy , 100th Birthday, the Rev. E.C. Alexander — 5B Voters to get sales tax referendum By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor Voters will decide in a Novem ber referendum if a sales tax increase is the best way to pad the county’s coffers. Chowan County commis sioners unanimously voted Monday night to add the ref erendum to this year’s ballot. fr - . ' , ; 4 \ l STAFF PHOTOS BY BRETT A CLARK Diane Daniels catches her breath after jumping in with County Manager Peter Rascoe during Saturday's Polar Plunge. Chowan hosts third Polar Plunge Event raised $7.5K for Special Olympics By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor E DENTON — The waters of Edenton Bay were pounded by a barrage of cannonballs Saturday but there wasn’t a Civil War re enactor in sight. Instead, 60 jumpers, most of them stripped down to bare skin and swimsuits, were doing the damage' — one leap into the cold, frigid water at a time. The event was the 3rd an nual Polar Plunge, Chowan County’s fundraiser for Special Olympics. Bundled in jackets and Leaders working to hold tax rate Reduced services are expected By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor County commissioners adopted three budget rec ommendations aimed at keeping the same tax rate with adjusted services, returning full time em ployees to a 40-hour work week, and designating land transfer tax proceeds for the schools. ©2009 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved V * : .. . , . r , The move calls for increasing the local sales tax from 7.75 cents to 8 cents, which could generate an additional $150,000 annually. “This is something that the people need to decide,” said Commissioner Keith Nixon. “I don’t even know if it’ll pass.” Nearly a year and a half ago, voters then rejected a similar Jean Bunch jumps in the water dressed as a pirate, Saturday during the Polar Plunge at the waterfront in Edenton. warmed by coffee and hot chocolate, hundreds of spectators looked on as the plungers took turns leaping into the bay As County Manager Peter Rascoe prepares to draft a budget for the next fiscal year, the Chowan County Board of Commis sioners unanimously ap proved three finance com mittee recommendations as a guide. Although the first approved recommen dation includes staying at the current property tax rate of 68 and Vt cents per $100 valuation, the goal might not be possible. “It’s clear to me what revenues that I have to work with,” said Rascoe at Thursday morning’s board meeting. “There are some substantial changes that will have to be made to balance revenue to ex penses.” There was confusion . • < sales tax increase. One businessman told the board an increase would hurt local businesses that have to compete with nearby Virginia where the sales tax is lower. “I understand the county needs revenue,” Henry White said. “I don’t believe this is the way. You may lose business owners if you raise taxes.” “I know it’s cold, but it wouldn’t be the Polar Plunge if it wasn’t,” said Linda Hobbs, event co-chairwoman. The water temperature among some commission ers that the vote meant there could be no tax in crease. “I just want to make sure that we’re not shoot ing ourselves in the foot by cutting something out that might mean a 3 cents tax increase,” said Com missioner Jimmy Alli good. Commissioner Keith Nixon suggested that *he preferred any tax in crease be deferred at least another year, since the county continues to be saddled with high unem ployment and a lingering recession. But, a final decision on whether a tax increase is necessary will come later when Rascoe returns with .iKS;• .’V , '■ >..V White added that the loss of business could offset any increase the tax generated. He also said business owners in surrounding counties that have raised the sales tax have discovered loss business. But, commissioners said it’s a matter for the voters and a way to ease the tax revenue burden from property owners. was 43 degrees—just a couple of degrees colder than the temperature onshore. Even so, some plungers pre ferred not to know how cold the water was. “After the first year of the event, jumpers said they didn’t need to know that,” said Robbie Laughton, Edenton-Chowan Parks and Recreation director. This year’s Polar Plunge raised $7,514 for Special Olympics, slightly down from last year’s $10,000 total when the weather was milder and the economy still hopeful. “Even more important than the money is the aware ness,” Hobbs said. “We want people to know that we have See PLUNGE, 2A his budget draft that will likely include a reduced level of services. Commissioners ' de cided, however, that the next fiscal year would not include a continua tion of county employee furloughs. The board approved returning em ployees to a 40-hour work week. All non-public safe ty employees have been working at 37 and 1/2 hour work weeks since the last fiscal year. Despite the county’s continued financial woes, there have been signs of improvement. Revenue from sales tax has been better than forecast; al beit still down overall due See TAX RATE, 2A The sales tax would impact everyone that conducts busi ness in the county, including visitors. “My personal opinion is that a sales tax is the most fair tax,” Commissioner Em mett Winborne first said in a board meeting last week. He reiterated that opinion Mon day night. County ignores DSS pleas By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor County leaders pared down the size of Chowan’s Department of Social Services after a narrow deci sion to privatize its Child Support Enforcement despite calls that the move would be more costly In a 4-3 vote and against the pleas of DSS Director Cliff Hardison, the Board of Com missioners opted to contract with Young Williams, Child Support Ser- Hardison vices. “My personal opinion is that privatization is more efficient,” Commissioner Ken ny Goodwin said. But, Hardison said privatization would cost the county more annu- K. Goodwin ally “We have determined that to take child support out of the county bud get would cost the county $34,255 more,” Hardison said. He also told the commissioners if given another year, he could im prove the department’s efficiency and further reduce costs while in creasing child support collections. He went as far as to guarantee re sults. “Our director is saying he could do it cheaper and all he’s asking for is a year; that’s worth thinking about,” Commissioner Jimmy Al ligood said. But, the board majority preferred less government and an opportuni ty to create economic development. “Anytime I can reduce the size of See DSS, 2A Shooting won’t deter candidacy By RITCHIE E. STARNES Editor A Chowan County depu ty said Monday his self-in flicted hand shooting will not deter his candi dacy for sheriff. Days after dep uty Tim Brabble acciden tally shot himself in Brabble the hand while cleaning a .357-cali ber Glock handgun, the candidate for sheriff vows to resume his campaign. "I don’t think it’s going to affect me at all,” Brab ble said. “I’m not making any excuses.” Brabble, 45, filed to chal lenge his boss Feb. 19. Five days later the Republican accidentally shot himself in the hand while cleaning a personal weapon in his home. Brabble called the Feb. 24 shooting “human error” on his part. “For whatever reason, I didn’t take the (bullet) out of the chamber before breaking the gun down,” Brabble said. “It wasn’t the gun’s fault. I simply skipped that step.” See BRABBLE, 2A i ; • ' V: -V - UONSCLUB Ifllliy.ltlgy _ EDENTON BAPTIST CHURCH $elo SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010 • 6:00 A.M. UNTIL 11:00 A M. c8*ffiE!£i“i TismaMtnmmmmmmsmsswasnimmMnsmsmsasiam HEARING IMEAIHEI). ■- v-l <■'i** & ■ V; !•/ *\ -

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