Johnston Commissioners To Consider Budget Adoption, Development Study At Monday Meeting

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Johnston County commissioners are expected to adopt a roughly $420 million budget Monday night and review the results of a new study that could play a significant role in future development decisions across the county.

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. June 15 at the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield.

Among the most closely watched items on the agenda is presentation of a recently completed Cost of Community Services Study and Fiscal Impact Model. The study examined the relationship between tax revenue and government services generated by different types of development.

According to county officials, the study found that residential development generally requires more in public services than it generates in property tax revenue. However, the report also concluded that commercial and industrial development more than offsets the deficit created by housing growth.

The county’s new Fiscal Impact Model is designed to estimate the financial impact of individual development proposals. Commissioners could use the tool in the future when weighing rezoning requests and other development-related decisions.

The board is also expected to consider adoption of the county’s 2026-27 spending plan.

County Manager Rick Hester has proposed a budget totaling approximately $420 million. While the proposal includes funding increases for Johnston County Public Schools and Johnston Community College, it falls short of the amounts requested by both institutions.

Board Chairman Patrick Harris recently indicated there is support among some commissioners for providing additional funding to the school system, community college and local nonprofit organizations before the final budget is approved.

Commissioners will also consider a proposed Utility Services Agreement with the Town of Wilson’s Mills that would establish future water service boundaries for new development.

Several employee benefit changes are scheduled for consideration as well. The Human Resources Department is requesting approval of an eight-hour floating holiday and up to 24 hours of bereavement leave for county employees. HR officials are also seeking repeal of a policy that currently requires married employees to share family leave benefits.

The board will receive the annual report from Johnston County’s Child Fatality Prevention Team. The report documents 24 child deaths in Johnston County during 2025, including six deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Seven deaths were attributed to premature birth or prenatal conditions, while six others resulted from illnesses including cancer, leukemia and diabetes.

Public safety items also appear on the agenda.

Commissioners are expected to authorize the purchase of six replacement tanker trucks for the 50-210, Antioch, Bethany, Four Oaks, Micro and Princeton fire departments.

The board approved the purchases in May, but the original vendor later informed county officials it could not build the trucks under the agreed specifications. The contract is now expected to be awarded to Atlantic Coast Firetrucks. The vehicles will cost between $621,411 and $651,411 each, depending on engine options.

Emergency Services officials are also seeking approval to accept a $25,000 Duke Energy Storm Preparedness Grant. The grant would fund 250 preparedness kits for vulnerable residents. Each kit would include a weather radio, cooling fan, medication cooler, document storage folder and a thumb drive for digital backups of important records.

Commissioners are also expected to approve a funding agreement with the Town of Kenly tied to a $500,000 county allocation for a water main project awarded in 2023. The agreement outlines how the funds may be used as construction gets underway.

In other business, the board will consider a resolution outlining how Johnston County plans to spend its latest allocation of national opioid settlement funds. County officials plan to continue supporting treatment and recovery efforts while expanding services related to early intervention and employment assistance.

Commissioners will also formalize their recent decision to deny a rezoning request involving 2.6 acres on Elevation Road. Earlier this month, the board voted against allowing RV storage buildings on the property.

Applications from former Johnston County Planning Board Chairman Will Letchworth and Pine Level Mayor Jeff Holt for appointment to the U.S. 70 Corridor Commission are also scheduled for consideration. The commission advocates for transportation improvements along the corridor that is being upgraded to Interstate 42 between Johnston County and the coast.

Additional agenda items include requests from the N.C. Department of Transportation to accept several subdivision streets into the state-maintained road system and approval of budget amendments totaling more than $39,000 for the Sheriff’s Office and county jail.