Chairman Harris Delivers 2026 State Of The County Address

SMITHFIELD – Patrick Harris, Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, delivered the State of the County address through a video produced by the County’s Public Information Office.

The video was played at the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Here is the transcript of his remarks.

Hello, I’m Patrick Harris, chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. On behalf of my fellow commissioners and our County staff, welcome to the annual State of the County Address.

As we reflect on 2025 and the tremendous work accomplished across Johnston County, I want to highlight the priorities that guide us throughout the year: infrastructure, financial stewardship, public safety, education funding, land use, and — most importantly — our County employees.

Preserving Johnston County’s farms and natural areas remains one of the highest land-use priorities. This past year, in partnership with the Triangle Land Conservancy, the County helped preserve 635 acres in the Archer Lodge, Benson, Middlesex, and Selma communities. With the County’s financial support, the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District also purchased two conservation easements in 2025, ensuring another 202 acres will remain in farming forever. And in the first quarter of this year, Soil and Water expects to preserve an additional 118 acres.

Commissioners are putting the finishing touches on a new Unified Development Ordinance. This ordinance will help ensure that we remain true to our comprehensive land-use plan, which places a strong emphasis on preserving Johnston County’s rural character.

With County financial support, Johnston Community College opened its Advanced Manufacturing Training Facility last fall in Four Oaks. The center now hosts programs in welding, applied engineering, and mechanical and computer-integrated machining. We’re confident this facility will help attract good-paying advanced manufacturing jobs to Johnston County. In fact, Vulcan Elements — a manufacturer of rare-earth magnets — has already announced plans to train its 1,000 employees there.

In late fall, the County began construction on its first-ever park. Johnston Regional Park, located in the Cleveland community, will open later this year with four pickleball courts, two basketball courts, a fishing pond, and ample parking. And that’s just phase one. Future phases will add multi-use fields, walking trails, a playground, a dog park, a disc golf course, a skate park, and an amphitheater.

With your input through surveys and community meetings, the County also completed a comprehensive trails and greenways plan in 2025. Recently approved by commissioners, the plan envisions a connected network of trails linking residents to parks, nature preserves, downtown shops and restaurants—and even neighboring counties. Some folks may one day bike or walk to work right here in Johnston County.

As your commissioners, we continue to invest in job creation because we want you to be able to work in the County you call home. That’s why we chose to award incentives to Vulcan Elements, a company producing rare-earth materials critical to our nation’s defense. We know incentives are not without controversy, and we hear your concerns. But this project has the potential to create a thousand jobs right here in Johnston County — a thousand people who won’t have to pile into their cars and battle congestion on I-40 or I-95 every day. These will be good jobs, paying well above the County average. And it’s important to remember: these incentives pose no financial risk to the County. If Vulcan fails to meet its hiring and investment targets, it receives nothing.

Commissioners also supported bringing college baseball to Smithfield. Beginning in 2027, the Smithfield Tobs — a wood-bat summer team for college players — will take the field in a stadium that Johnston County will help build.

With the creation of a single fire tax district in 2024, Johnston County ensured that all fire departments have the staffing and equipment they need to protect our residents and their property. The innovative approach has drawn attention from other counties across the state, many of which are calling Johnston County to learn how we did it.

The County continues to maintain its AAA bond rating, allowing us to borrow money at the lowest possible interest rates. That rating will save Johnston County taxpayers millions of dollars as we pay off debt for new schools, including Swift Creek Elementary, which opened this year, and the new Clayton High School, where construction is now underway. Just as important, these projects are moving hundreds of our children out of mobile classrooms and into modern, safe learning environments.

Like many of you, I paid a higher property tax bill in 2025 following the countywide revaluation and the tax rate set by commissioners. And like you, I had grown accustomed to tax bills that actually decreased from year to year, thanks to rate cuts adopted in recent years. But this year, the County faced needs that simply could not be postponed. Much of the additional revenue went toward new hires in critical departments, including Emergency Services, where commissioners approved 16 new positions. We added staff in Social Services, Public Health, and 911 Communications, among others. These investments ensure the County can respond to emergencies, provide lifesaving care, and support our most vulnerable residents.

Looking ahead, in 2026, the County will complete expansions of its water and sewer plants. Paid for by water and sewer users, these projects will ensure that Johnston County has the capacity to welcome new industries, shops, restaurants and families in the years ahead.

Thank you for joining me for the State of the County Address. I’m proud to report that the state of Johnston County is strong — and growing stronger as we continue to focus on the board’s priorities. We are truly blessed to live in one of the greatest counties in North Carolina, and it remains our aim as commissioners to serve you well.

Thank you again for being here, and God bless you.