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WINDSOR – On the heels of a voter-approved measure, items purchased from Bertie County businesses that are subject to state sales tax will slightly increase in cost effective July 1.

At a special called meeting here recently, the Bertie County Board of Commissioners formally adopted a resolution that levies an additional one-quarter of one cent sales and use tax. That tax is now seven cents (per $1 of purchase) and applies to all items, with the exception of food, purchased from Bertie County businesses.

The previous tax was 6.75 cents (per $1 of purchase).

During the March 3 Primary Election, Bertie County voters narrowly approved the measure. The official tally was 2,029 votes in favor and 1,885 opposing.

That measure had been defeated in two previous Bertie elections (2014 and 2018).

“The citizens of this county approved it and now after that approval we have a time limit to put this resolution in place,” said Commission Chairman Ronald “Ron” Wesson at the meeting that was held using COVID-19 guidelines with board members either attending in person, or by phone or internet hook-up.

The Commissioners approved the resolution without objection, noting that it would become effective on July 1.

“The [added] funds will go directly to our school system, not just for teachers, but for all school personnel,” said Wesson.

Bertie now joins several counties in the region to approve an increase to its local option sales tax. Other local counties with a 7-cent state sales and use tax are Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Pasquotank, and Pitt.