WHITE LAKE — When residents get their tax bills from White Lake this year, they will notice something different. The town voted Tuesday to cut the traditional 2-percent discount for those paying early in half, to 1-percent.

The vote was 5 to 1 in favor of the change, with Councilman Tim Blount casting the lone vote in opposition.

“A lot of towns have gone to this,” said Mayor Goldston Womble.

Originally, the town offered a 2-percent discount to those who paid their property tax bills by the end of July and then the discount would drop to 1-percent for the period from August to December. The town’s tax bills are generated by the Bladen County tax office and many residents don’t receive their bill in time to take advantage of the 2-percent discount in July, said Womble.

Also, the town’s account barely earns a 1-percent interest rate and the town’s staff did not think it prudent to continue the 2-percent discount, according to Womble.

“It used to be at a 5 percent rate of return and we could make it up,” said Womble of the 2-percent discount.

Blount disagreed with the change saying he felt that with the economic hardships the town didn’t need to do away with the 2-percent discount.

“I’d like to leave it like it is,” he said.

Councilman Donald Smith made a motion to accept the change as it was presented.

“We’re still giving a 1-percent discount to those who want to pay early,” said Womble.

“I don’t think we need to take a loss on it,” said Smith.

“I don’t think we’re penalizing anybody,” said Womble.

In other business:

• The council gave their consensus for the town staff to include funds for a recycling program in the upcoming 2009-10 budget.

• The council also received an update on the proposed White Lake Urgent Care Facility. The members learned that a letter has been sent to Joyce Korzen of Cape Fear Valley Hospital asking for a job commitment letter. The letter is needed to complete the application for the N.C. Rural Center’s Building Reuse and Restoration program grant.

• The board was also briefed on the state of the budget. According to Womble, the town is continuing to see revenue losses in the sales and use taxes and interest income. The town has lost about $7,000 in sales and use taxes and about $30,000 less in interest income as of Feb. 28, according to Womble. The board agreed that only essential items necessary to carry out the functions of the town should be purchased.