May 18 meeting recap: Commissioners hear budget proposal
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on Monday:
- Heard County Manager Rick Hester’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27. Under the proposed spending plan, the County’s property tax rate would remain at 52 cents per $100 valuation, and the fire district tax rate would stay at 11.5 cents. The Johnston County Public Schools would receive $113 million for operations and $3.5 million for capital needs. Johnston Community College would receive just over $10 million for operations and $1.2 million for capital needs. The landfill tipping fee would increase from $48 to $50 per ton, but convenience sites would remain free for residents to use. County department heads this year requested 28 new positions, but Hester recommends putting a pause on new jobs. He would allow Public Utilities to add four positions paid for by water and sewer revenue. In all, the $421.9 million spending plan is up 2.2% over the current year. It includes new debt payments for the Clayton High rebuild and voter-approved bonds for the public schools and JCC.
- Accepted 308 acres from the Triangle Land Conservancy for the future Rose Dairy Park. When it opens later this year, the park will offer walking trails, fishing ponds, picnic areas, wildlife viewing areas and educational opportunities. Also, Johnston County Parks and Open Space will locate its offices there. Part of the property will remain a working farm, home to Garrett Wildflower Seed Farm. The park is named for the dairy farm that once operated on the site. The land sits at the start of the Neuse River lowgrounds, the Triangle’s largest remaining wilderness area and a conservation priority for the TLC. A county financial contribution helped the TLC buy the land. Since 2018, the County has helped preserve some 1,750 acres of farmland in rural Johnston.
- OK’d the Health Department’s fee schedule for fiscal year 2026-27. Across preventive health, behavioral health and environmental health, the schedule raises some fees, lowers others and keeps many unchanged. The greatest dollar changes are in environmental health. For smaller septic systems, for example, the permit fee will climb from $500 to $600. For larger ones, it will increase from $575 to $700.
- Heard from several Johnstonians during public comment. Among other things, the speakers called on the County to feed the hungry, make housing affordable and help Johnstonians who are struggling to pay their bills, especially rent and utilities. One speaker called for more transparency in the County’s annual budget process.
- Gave Public Utilities the go-ahead to move forward with three capital projects. One will allow Public Utilities to bring more water to the fast-growing Clayton and Cleveland communities. Another will make booster pump station upgrades and pipeline improvements on King Road north of Selma. The third will replace a sewer pump station near Duchess Downs subdivision in the Cleveland community.
- Granted staff’s request to move property tax foreclosures in-house. Traditionally, the County has hired a private law firm to conduct foreclosure proceedings when Johnston property owners fail to pay their taxes. Staff is confident it can perform that task for less than it pays an outside law firm. Historically, the County hasn’t been aggressive about foreclosures, and some delinquent taxpayers are now years delinquent. Staff proposes to start with those cases.
- Proclaimed May 17-23 as Emergency Medical Services Week. “Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury,” the proclamation notes. And because of that, “it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services providers.”
- Added $6,482.21 in revenue to the Sheriff’s Office budget. The money includes insurance proceeds and collections from the state’s Controlled Substance Tax.
Page last updated on: May 20, 2026