Budget Approved As County Receives New Data On Cost Of Growth

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Johnston County Commissioners adopted a $434.9 million budget Monday that lowers the property tax rate, fully funds requests from Johnston County Public Schools and Johnston Community College, and adds new public safety positions across the county.

The spending plan, approved during the June 15 meeting, will take effect July 1 and reduces the county property tax rate to 51 cents per $100 valuation. Despite the lower tax rate, commissioners provided schools with their full local funding request and approved all operating funds sought by Johnston Community College.

The budget also includes funding for additional sheriff’s deputies, paramedics and 911 telecommunicators as Johnston County continues to experience rapid population growth. County employees will receive a 3 percent pay raise beginning July 1 and could be eligible for an additional 2 percent merit increase later in the fiscal year.

Several local nonprofits also received funding through the budget, including Harbor, the Boys & Girls Club and the Triangle Land Conservancy.

In another item likely to influence future growth decisions, commissioners received the results of a Cost of Community Services Study and a new Fiscal Impact Model.

The study confirmed a trend county leaders have long suspected: most residential development generates less property tax revenue than the cost of providing public services to those homes. At the same time, revenue generated by commercial and industrial properties more than offsets the deficit created by residential development.

County officials said the new Fiscal Impact Model will allow staff to evaluate proposed developments and estimate their effects on county services and infrastructure. Commissioners could use the information when considering future rezoning and development requests.

Commissioners also heard from Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District Director Greg Walker, who said Johnston County could be positioned to secure as much as $12 million in federal farmland preservation funding and an additional $2 million in state funds. Walker noted that grant programs favor local governments willing to commit matching dollars and asked commissioners to continue providing $600,000 annually toward farmland preservation efforts.

The board approved a revised schedule for updating Johnston County’s Unified Development Ordinance, one of the most closely watched planning efforts in the county. The latest draft will be posted online Aug. 4 for public review. A community meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10, followed by Planning Board review Sept. 15. Commissioners are expected to hold a public hearing Oct. 5 and consider adoption Nov. 2.

Several employee benefit changes were also approved. County workers will receive a new floating holiday and up to 24 hours of paid bereavement leave. Commissioners also repealed a policy requiring married county employees to share 12 weeks of family leave, a change Human Resources officials said would help with employee recruitment and retention.

The board approved a utility service agreement with the Town of Wilson’s Mills establishing how water and sewer service will be provided within town limits and in areas that may be annexed in the future. The agreement gives Johnston County authority to review and approve service requests for satellite annexations based on available capacity, infrastructure demands and long-term utility planning.

Commissioners also approved the Johnston County Health Department’s plan for spending the next round of opioid settlement funds. Existing programs for addiction treatment and recovery will continue, while new efforts will focus on early intervention and employment services.

The board received the annual report from the Johnston County Child Fatality Prevention Team, which documented 24 child deaths in 2025. The report showed seven deaths were linked to premature birth or prenatal conditions, six resulted from motor vehicle accidents, and six were caused by illnesses including cancer and diabetes.

In other business, commissioners accepted a $25,000 Duke Energy Storm Preparedness Grant that will be used to purchase 250 emergency preparedness kits for vulnerable residents. Each kit will include a weather radio, fan, cooler for medications, waterproof document storage and a thumb drive for electronic backups of important records.

The board also approved a funding agreement with the Town of Kenly related to a previously awarded $500,000 water main project grant, appointed Will Letchworth and Pine Level Mayor Jeff Holt to the U.S. 70 Corridor Commission, formally denied a rezoning request on Elevation Road, and approved several budget amendments for the Sheriff’s Office and county jail.

Commissioners also endorsed the addition of several subdivision streets in the Little River Plantation and Ashley Heights developments to the NCDOT’s maintenance system.