Commissioners might boost school, college budgets

The Johnton County Public Schools could be a bigger beneficiary of the budget that County Commissioners are likely to adopt on June 15.

 

SMITHFIELD — County Commissioners on June 15 could adopt a budget for fiscal year 2026-27 that surpasses what County Manager Rick Hester proposed.

Among other things in his $420 million spending plan, Hester did not grant Johnston County Public Schools and Johnston Community College their full funding requests.

The Public Schools are seeking $116.3 million for operations and another $5.478 million for capital projects. Hester had recommended $113 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

JCC, meanwhile, is seeking roughly $14.66 million for operations and $8 million for capital projects. Hester had allocated $10 million and $1.2 million.

Commissioners Chairman Patrick Harris said there was support among individual Commissioners to give the schools and college more of what they had sought.

“The college in particular is having trouble filling some teaching positions because people like nurses and paramedics can make more money elsewhere,” Harris said in advance of Monday’s Commissioners meeting.

His fellow board members also appear inclined to provide financial support to nonprofits, Harris said. Over the years, Commissioners have allocated dollars to groups such as the Boys & Girls Club, the Smithfield Rescue Mission and the Triangle Land Conservancy.

In his budget proposal, Hester included just four of the 34 new positions that department heads requested for the year ahead. Many of those positions were in Emergency Services, 911 Communications, and the Sheriff’s Department, and Commissioners are leaning toward adding some of those, Harris said.

“As a Board, we have a duty to keep the people of Johnston County safe, and we’re going to do that,” he said.

 

 

Page last updated on:  July 14, 2026