TARBORO — As if the flooded areas did not have enough problems, Hurricane Floyd will also mean hard-hit counties will have lower tax revenues.

Edgecombe County estimates hurricane damage will cause the loss of $80 million from its tax base.

The county manager says some upgrades to county services may have to go on the back burner.

"We're already a county that had economic challenges in terms of a low, industrial tax base. Losing additional tax base does hurt a lot. It makes it difficult for us to provide general services as it relates to social services, health services and so forth. It will be a difficult challenge for us," said County Manager Joe Durham.

Long-term projects, including an upgrade at the county 911 center, will probably be put on hold.

Edgecombe County can barely collect from the tax base that still exists.

Tax employees now work in a crowded, makeshift office without computers because the tax department was flooded.

The town of Princeville, which suffered some of the worst flooding damage, probably lost an even greater percentage of its tax base.

Mayor Delia Perkins says the lost revenue should not force her to dissolve Princeville's government.