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.
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thank your for this article, keep up the good work
UDO must Go, and commissioners to follow. Your misguided decisions have costed us and wr shouldn’t look the other way! There is a serious problem if the decisions you make continue to cost us! If that’s the case, any of us can be commissioners!!!! Who can’t get up there and say yes in unison, agree in unison to raise taxes? If You as a group were working for a company to save money, you would be fired, and I expect no difference here.
Thanks Mr. Harris, I like this way of giving the address. As people can be there have an opportunity too hear the Counties side. I think one of the major issues in our County is traffic infrastructure and there was no way we could have known we would explode like we have. I understand some of tax incentives as people come in and as long as that property is active, the Countyis getting tax money from the property. Again Thanks and look forward to another Coounty Funtion soon.
Develope the whole da** county until it looks like Raleigh then I guess we old people will just leave like they are doing in New York to come down here what the h*ll
These commissioners are destroying this once fine county with overgrowth, crime, traffic, increased taxes ( my property tax went up 112/mth). They are all charlatans.
And yet, yhe sheep keep re-electing the same folks again and again.
Good speech!
That being said, lets keep in mind, government has no funds, no rewards for conservative stewardship, prior to governments attempt to appease the population thru benefits they didn’t request or agree with, they must first steal the money from those they claim to represent . As voters or non-voters, we get exactly what we’re willing to put up with. Forget term limits, vote em ,out every cycle , every time, before the cancer of corruption takes hold. Look in the mirror, we allowed it, only we can change it. At some point you have to realize we’ve been in the habit of voting for idiots.
“These projects are moving hundreds of our children out of mobile classrooms and into modern, safe learning environments”….but those children in the county who attend another public school- Neuse Charter- will continue to be ignored. Well done.
“We know incentives are not without controversy, and we hear your concerns. But…” Do you really hear the concerns? Every meeting at some point or another Commissioner Stovall pipes up with something absurd to contribute that blatantly proves at least he has no interest in hearing anyone’s concerns.
“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…” I am sure your salary that taxpayers pay you for your service as a BoC member can help cover the extra cost of your taxes…..you’re welcome, by the way. But what about those who are on a fixed income? Oh wait, you already “heard” those concerns, too, at several meetings.
Looks like you all really were intentional about raising those taxes to cover the need for more infrastructure and more operational positions that would not be necessary had the BoC not decided to approve almost every possible inch of land for development. But let’s be sure to give them 3 cheers for preserving the measley 837 acres of farmland when there are over 174,000 farmland acres in JoCo, or there used to be.
Great job, Chairman Harris and the BoC, as always. 🙄
Someone get these people a lollipop and a scratch and smell sticker from the treasure box.