Tax collections are up this fall in Bedford County, the county commission’s financial management committee was told last week.

Sales tax collections are up $427,000 and property tax collections $255,000 over this time last year Finance Director Robert Daniel said.

Offsetting that is a projected loss of $255,000 by the county’s juvenile detention center. That loss is partially due to fewer out-of-town youths being sent to Bedford County’s facility, which keeps them to raise revenue, because of the COVID pandemic.

The pandemic has also caused the county’s traffic school to make $55,000 less than last year due to cancelled sessions, Daniel said.

**Assessor staff

Property Assessor Ronda Clanton is asking the commission to budget an additional full-time permanent employee for her office and an additional part-time worker for several weeks during assessment.

An increased workload caused by the county’s growth was cited by Clanton. Appraisals have risen by $321 million since 2016, including $42.8 million over the past year.

Daniel, County Mayor Chad Graham and members of the committee will crunch various numbers and scenarios and present a funding plan for the added help to the full commission at its November meeting. That plan will be part of a budget amendment.

**Looking ahead

The county’s jail and justice center is nearing total completion soon at $1.1 million under estimated costs, Graham said.

Those dollars will go into the county’s capital projects fund.

Some of the money could be used for a proposed replacement of the elevator at Bedford County Annex. The elevator is currently operational after being down for some time but isn’t in good condition.

Pipes in the 1965-vintage building are to be repaired soon, architect John Davis said.

Other needs Graham mentioned include replacement of the county’s all-agencies 911 radio system, which is so old parts are no longer available, six new fully-equipped sheriff’s patrol vehicles, body cams for deputies and an on-site shooting range.

**Solid waste

The county cannot accept construction or demolition materials., solid waste and recycling coordinator Diane Forbes told the committee. Those materials must be sent to commercial waster facilities.

Compactors will be delivered to convenience centers in mid-November. They can “mash” large items including furniture, allowing the county to make fewer trips to the landfill.

**Records center

Shelving will be added soon at the county’s new records center. A digital scanner is being purchased.

Archivist Carol Roberts is asking for anyone with old photos of the current courthouse’s interior to loan them for scanning. The county hopes to consult those photos before an upcoming remodeling project.