ST. PAULS — The town of St. Pauls broke about even during the 2011-2012 fiscal year, an auditor told the Board of Commissioners at its Thursday meeting.

“You came in right, I think at a $200 or $170 negative amount,” said Bryon Scott, of Thompson, Price, Scott and Adams accounting firm. “So for keeping your budget in line, I think that should be commended.”

Scott said the unassigned portion of the town’s General Fund is well above the 8 percent threshold required by state law, and that the board had worked well together to remain a “sound financial institution.”

“It is an ongoing thing,” he said. “In this day and time, you’ve got to keep the budget tight and look for all the revenue you can.”

Also on Thursday, the board heard from Christopher Rose, who asked why he was recently stopped from selling Florida-grown oranges and tangerines at the town’s farmers market. Town Administrator Stuart Turille said that buying a product and reselling it classifies Rose as a merchant, and requires him to obtain a privilege license.

“I have to treat you as a retail seller since you’re not growing it yourself,” he said. “You’re buying it, paying for it the way any businessman would, and reselling at retail. Even though it’s on the street, you’re acting as a merchant rather than a farmer straight to the market.”

To obtain a privilege license, Turille said, Rose would have to rent a piece of land or building at which to sell his items. Rose said he is not the only person at the market who is reselling goods.

In other action on Thursday, the board:

— Passed a resolution asking the state to increase funding for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

— Approved foreclosure on a home at 321 W. Pate St. because of unpaid back taxes.

— Approved a request from Robeson Community College for use of the R.E. Hooks Community Building for Adult Education classes, contingent upon a rental agreement. The classes will begin in January and be held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

— Approved the purchase of a software upgrade, at $2,860, that will streamline the town’s outdated billing systems. The change will not affect how customers pay their bills, Turille said.

— Heard from Charles Britt, director of Robeson County Emergency Services, who told the board about changes to the county’s dispatch system that will improve communication between the county and the town and help to alert residents to natural disasters.

— Appointed Ernest Maynor, Jerry Quick and Dohn Caudell to the Planning Board, Dewitt Rountree to the ABC Board, and Mike Ratley to the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Board.

— Added $10,000 to the Police Department’s budget for vehicle maintenance. The money is part of about $20,000 of revenue from privilege license fees on sweepstakes gaming machines that was not budgeted.

— Canceled the board’s January work session.