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I am writing this letter to the editor to SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!

First, the contract with the Cypress Cove Country Club was not renewed by the new board of supervisors for the upcoming budget fiscal year 2020/2021.

Second, the trash removal cost to Southampton County is about $1.5 million a year. The trash fee covers about $1 million of the cost. The rest comes from the general fund.

If we were to remove the trash fee the county would have to make up for that million dollars from somewhere! Some have said just add it to the personal property tax. If we did that your property tax would increase about 20 percent or .71 cent a hundred. If that were to happen most tax-paying citizens in the county would pay about double the trash fee they are paying now.

I don’t like the trash fee anymore than anyone else, but we’re gonna have to live with it for now. The board has worked many hours this year on the upcoming budget. We got it done without having to cut any crucial items for the county and its employees. These are trying and uncertain times and we are still going to do the best we can for our constituents.

If anyone has any questions, Please don’t hesitate to call me.

Thanks,

Robert White

Franklin District Supervisor

562-2131

rwhite@southamptoncounty.org