CHAPEL HILL - Orange County commissioners are letting the deadline pass to put a transfer tax measure on the November ballot.

The commissioners met for a work session Thursday, but the transfer tax discussion wasn't an action item on the agenda.

The state Board of Elections has told counties they have to decide by Tuesday whether they want to put a revenue measure on the November ballot.

The legislature allowed counties to ask voters for either a 0.4 percent land transfer tax or a quarter-cent sales tax increase.

The tax options could appear on the May primary ballot.

The commissioners appeared to be leaning toward the land transfer tax option, though Commissioner Barry Jacobs suggested both options be put on the ballot.

Chairman Moses Carey Jr. and Commissioner Valerie Foushee cited the need for time to educate voters as one reason the issue should be considered for May.

Orange County is facing a budget shortfall of about half a million dollars this fiscal year after the legislature withheld school construction funds, County Manager Laura Blackmon said.

The transfer tax option would net the county a little more than $4 million, and the sales tax option a little more than $3 million.

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