CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. — In a matter of months, thousands of Cumberland County homeowners were supposed to be annexed into Fayetteville, but now they may have to wait a year.

For 30 years, Jessie Tedder had to deal with a bad septic tank in her Lombardy Drive home. She and her husband use a portable commode, and they seldom have company.

Tedder was looking forward to new sewer service this year as a result of annexation, but now that Fayetteville could lose up to $7 million from the state and the county, City manager Roger Stancil wants to hold off on the project until June 2003.

"All I need is a hurricane or a tornado or something, and I'm going to have a flood in my yard," Tedder said.

Stancil said if his recommendation is approved, the designs for annexation will go forward this year and the actual installation of the septic tanks would only be delayed by a couple of months.