JACKSON — Northampton County employees will not face furloughs in the coming year nor will property owners face an tax increase, but hydrilla control for Lake Gaston and the Senior Center are not funded in the 2009-2010 budget passed on a 4-1 vote by the commissioners Tuesday.

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Commissioner Chester DeLoatch explained his lone no vote. “I want to be fair to everybody. I just didn’t feel like the budget was fair.” Deloatch went on to say he wanted to see the Senior Center funded and he knows a lot of people who use Lake Gaston, even though they don’t have a place there, and he felt the programs for these people should have at least been partially funded. “I want to be treated fairly and I want to treat others fairly,” he reiterated.

The bare bones budget is essentially the same budget presented at the commissioner’s May meeting except that budget included plans for furloughs.

Finance Officer Dot Vick was able to find other funding sources to accommodate the payroll. The operating budget is $22,470,875, and the tax rate is maintained at the current 78 cents per $100 valuation.

Health services used $108,750 from their home health fund balance to cover their expenses.

The impact of the budget on the Senior Center is still uncertain. County officials say they believe the center has some alternative funding sources to keep it operating. Rebecca Bayse of the Senior Center said the county cutbacks will impact some of their programs and services. While some alternative funding is available, the county’s funding was a key part of their budget, she added.

She noted Northampton County is one of the few counties deciding not to fund its senior center.

“I believe this budget meets the basic needs and services of the government,” said County Manager Wayne. Jenkins said the budget process had been grueling but he was proud to be a part of a team willing to step up to the plate and make the necessary cuts to trim back the waste and protect the people from tax hikes.

“When you have top quality leadership like you have in our county commissioners, 22 seasoned and dependable department heads and a top quality finance officer with 30 plus years of experience, and you bring all those players together, that’s what I attribute this budget to. Every time I approached the department heads and asked them to cut back, they stepped up, cooperated and supported the county. I’m truly blessed to be part of such a great county management team,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins went on to say the process was difficult and he was glad it was over. He voiced his appreciation for Vick and applauded her work. “Through her leadership it was as easy as it could have been. It’s quite a relief.”