BELHAVEN — The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners approved a motion to reduce Belhaven’s EMS bill from the county from $152,000 to about $89,000 at Monday night’s meeting. The only dissenting vote came from Commissioner Hood Richardson.

The bill is to cover the cost of White Oak EMS services for the town during fiscal year 2015, which includes two six-month contracts for a truck staffed with an EMT-Intermediate, as well as a yearlong contract for paramedic services. The Town of Belhaven usually pays about $90,000 per year for its EMS services.

At the commissioners’ meeting, Belhaven Mayor Adam O’Neal appealed to the board, arguing that the town never agreed to the increases and paying the $152,000 bill would mean hiking property taxes even further. Residents currently pay 7 cents per $100 in property taxes, but O’Neal estimated the EMS bill could force residents to have to pay up to 12 cents per $100.

He said Belhaven is already paying a high tax rate compared to other districts in the county, the next-highest being Pantego’s 5 cents per $100. The tax rate was the reasoning behind Commissioner Richardson’s sole dissenting vote to reduce the EMS bill, as Richardson said it is not fair for Belhaven to pay such a high rate compared to other districts.

O’Neal said he attributes the high costs to the lack of a hospital, and by reopening one, a lot of these costs would no longer be an issue. The Town of Belhaven is still moving forward with its plans to obtain the former Vidant Pungo Hospital property, owned by Pantego Creek LLC, under eminent domain and subsequently reopen the doors with the help of funds from a United States Department of Agriculture loan, which has yet to be awarded.

Belhaven Board of Aldermen elected to not pay the EMS bill at its last meeting on Feb. 22 until it could be discussed with the commissioners. Since the commissioners approved the motion to reduce the bill Monday, O’Neal will now report back to the Board of Aldermen next week.

For more information about Monday’s meeting, see the Wednesday edition of the Daily News.