Johnston County voters will be asked to borrow $76 million later this year to fund new school construction.
In a formal vote on June 5th, Johnston County Commissioners authorized a $61 million bond referendum for Johnston County Schools and a $15 million referendum for Johnston Community College. Both referendums will be subject to voter approval on November 6th.
Both amounts are less than what was being sought by each school.
Johnston County Schools had requested a $133.4 million bond but commissioners trimmed the request to $61 million. JCS officials have not said specifically how the $61 million, if approved by voters, would be allocated.
Johnston Community College had wanted a $25 million bond to pay for a 71,000 square foot building for Early College and JCC engineering students. That is equal to the size of a 2-A high school. Commissioners authorized $15 million of the amount.
Commissioners said they can afford the additional $76 million in bond debts without increasing the current 78 cents property tax rate.
