June 2, 2025 - 10:00 AM - Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes

10 301 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners June 2 , 2025 10 00 am The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Monday , June 2 , 2025 , at 10 00 am in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , Ted G Godwin , April Stephens , Bill Stovall , Michelle Pace Davis and Mike Rose Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , County Attorney Jennifer J Slusser , Clerk to the Board Dana G Cuddington and Executive Assistant Deputy Clerk to the Board Susie Reeves Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr called the meeting to order at 10 00 am Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris opened the meeting with an invocation American Legion Post 132 of Smithfield led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag Chairman Lawter reminded everyone of the Board’s six priorities including Public Safety , Infrastructure , County Employees , Financial Stewardship , Educational Funding , and Land Use and the Board’s continuing efforts to keep these priorities in mind when working through the agenda Chairman Lawter referenced the following graphic recently designed for the priorities 1 Approval Discussion of Agenda Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the amended agenda removing Item Number 8 – Emergency Services – North Side Fire & Rescue – Request for Land Purchase 2 Consent Agenda Items Upon a motion by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried by unanimous vote , the Board approved the consent agenda items as follows A Approval of Minutes – May 5 , 2025 10 00 am & 6 00 pm B Department of Transportation – Additions to System The Board concurred with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s recommendation to add the following roads to the State Maintained System Avery Meadows – Avery Meadows Drive , Shinning Pearl Court , Little Sunshine Brook , Two Daughters Stream , and Daffodil Garden Court – Smithfield Township C Town of Selma – Appointment to Selma Planning Board Per a request by the Town of Selma , the Board appointed the following individual to the Selma Planning Board representing the ETJ area of the Town Page302 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Linda Bailey , 214 Old Beulah Road , Selma term expiring 6 2 2028 D Celebrate Cleveland Committee – Request for Temporary Road Closure Per a request by the Celebrate Cleveland Committee , the Board approved the temporary closure of Cleveland Road on July 4 , 2025 from 4 00 pm until approximately 4 45 pm for the annual th Cleveland July 4 Parade route , subject to the Celebrate Cleveland Committee notifying the North Carolina Department of Transportation , the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office , and the North Carolina Highway Patrol , and obtaining all required permits E Minutes Transcription Services Contract Extension The Board approved the extension of a contract for minutes transcription services with Denise Hogan through June 30 , 2026 original contract approved in October 2021 F Johnston County Finance Department – Capital Assets The Board approved an increase to the capitalization threshold for capital assets from 5,000 to 10,000 , effective July 1 , 2025 The Public Utilities Department requests to amend the useful lives of the capital assets for its department G Budget Revisions , approved as follows Sheriff REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 51000420 Doctors 66300 10 51001700 Vehicles 54656 10 51007400 Capital Outlay 31,69509 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 32,90465 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 510032509 Insurance Recovery 32,24165 10 510033099 Miscellaneous Revenue 66300 TOTAL NET REVENUE 32,90465 Sheriff REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION EXPENDITURE INCREASE DECREASE 10 51007414 Capital Outlay – Sheriff 50,10443 TOTAL NET EXPENDITURES 50,10443 REQUESTED CHANGE FUND BUDGET CODE LINE ITEM CLASSIFICATION REVENUE INCREASE DECREASE 10 510032106 Controlled Substance Tax 50,10443 TOTAL NET REVENUE 50,10443 H Appointments , approved as follows • Eastern Regional Housing Board – Reappointed Sandra H Norris for a five year term to expire on June 30 , 2030 • Bentonville Firefighters Relief Fund Board of Trustees – Reappointed Porter Jones for a two year term to expire on April 30 , 2027 • Nursing Home Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board – Reappointed LaNarda N Williamson for a three year term to expire on June 30 , 2028 Appointed Donna Hinnant for a one year term to expire on June 30 , 2026 Page303 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued • Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board – Reappointed Jonathan Hardee for a three year term to expire on June 30 , 2028 I Tax Releases & Refunds – 04 16 2025 – 05 15 2025 Real Personal Property Releases TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 4 16 2025 10 09 12 AM ALassiter 2024 - 91449 2000246068 RENEW RECYCLING LLC 7,95636 4 16 2025 10 27 43 AM ALassiter 2024 - 50061 2000256587 HINTON , TERRY 12822 4 16 2025 10 54 15 AM cfutch 2023 - 202494 2000262943 SCP EYE CARE SERVICES LLC 3,43584 4 16 2025 10 59 13 AM cfutch 2024 - 129950 2000262943 SCP EYE CARE SERVICES LLC 3,10976 4 28 2025 3 46 55 PM ALassiter 2024 - 131045 2000264445 H & S LOGISTICS MANAGMENT LLC 64072 4 29 2025 4 10 24 PM dwoodward2 2024 - 201053 2000067982 LAMM , GLORIA Y 48157 4 29 2025 4 11 09 PM dwoodward2 2024 - 201054 2000067982 LAMM , GLORIA Y 48157 4 29 2025 4 12 12 PM dwoodward2 2024 - 201055 2000067982 LAMM , GLORIA Y 45900 4 29 2025 4 15 27 PM dwoodward2 2024 - 201056 2000067982 LAMM , GLORIA Y 18382 4 29 2025 4 16 01 PM dwoodward2 2024 - 201059 2000067982 LAMM , GLORIA Y 18382 4 29 2025 4 16 57 PM dwoodward2 2024 - 201060 2000067982 LAMM , GLORIA Y 17526 5 12 2025 3 35 51 PM ALassiter 2024 - 131126 2000264589 BEASLEYS LAWN CARE LLC 48114 Real Personal Property Refunds TRANS DATE TIME USER YR BILL # ACCT # TAXPAYER NAME AMOUNT 4 16 2025 10 58 01 AM cfutch 2023 - 202494 2000262943 SCP EYE CARE SERVICES LLC 3,43584 4 16 2025 10 58 23 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 10624 2000107396 BENITEZ , ISRAEL 5,97658 4 16 2025 11 02 40 AM cfutch 2024 - 129950 2000262943 SCP EYE CARE SERVICES LLC 3,19418 4 16 2025 11 06 46 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 65574 2000210205 MEJIA , EDUARDO 1,10011 4 17 2025 1 07 59 PM tmeacomes 2024 - 132586 2000266461 PERRY , ALEX JAMES 15619 4 21 2025 9 54 00 AM awstancil 2024 - 45742 2000246649 HOTOVY , DENNIS L 70000 4 21 2025 9 58 25 AM awstancil 2024 - 36995 2000253696 GODWIN , CASSANDRA G 19620 4 21 2025 11 35 50 AM ajsoutherland 2024 - 93605 2000149508 STRICKLAND , HAROLD W 1,92099 4 21 2025 1 06 09 PM awstancil 2024 - 51878 2000185698 JONES , JIMMY 65215 4 22 2025 10 36 59 AM awstancil 2024 - 110237 2000243451 BENCHI , MOHAMMED LARBI 21760 4 23 2025 10 33 22 AM awstancil 2024 - 10163 2000211078 BARCENAS , ARTURO 15733 4 24 2025 10 54 37 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 2404 2000192883 ALVAR NC LLC 38281 4 25 2025 11 00 54 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 11040 2000235347 PJS REAL ESTATE , LLC 48246 4 25 2025 11 22 16 AM ajsoutherland 2024 - 11801 2000243191 BOWERS , PATRICK F 44480 4 28 2025 11 48 45 AM ajsoutherland 2024 - 10163 2000211078 BARCENAS , ARTURO 13848 5 2 2025 10 46 13 AM awstancil 2024 - 73512 2000180312 MEHERRIN FERTILIZER INC 23731 5 5 2025 11 58 53 AM awstancil 2024 - 64651 2000221678 DORMAN , CASEY JERNIGAN 32738 5 5 2025 12 46 47 PM awstancil 2024 - 10163 2000211078 BARCENAS , ARTURO 16385 5 5 2025 2 07 42 PM awstancil 2024 - 92657 2000250866 STEVENS , LARUE S LIFE ESTATE 66405 5 6 2025 8 16 40 AM PHONE 2024 - 15220 2000218459 SILVERLINE PROPERTIES OF NC , 55532 LLC 5 6 2025 12 33 21 PM awstancil 2024 - 19966 2000261905 WILLIFORD , CAMERON M 22579 5 7 2025 10 26 48 AM tmeacomes 2024 - 76668 70358450 PIERCE , BOBBIE HOWELL 15329 5 7 2025 10 51 24 AM awstancil 2024 - 75744 2000167349 PEREZ , MARTHA L 21658 5 8 2025 12 12 03 PM awstancil 2024 - 8287 2000147048 BAREFOOT , JUSTIN NELSON 1,54446 5 8 2025 12 18 22 PM awstancil 2024 - 6938 2000261651 BAREFOOT , STEPHEN 1,36095 5 8 2025 4 29 34 PM awstancil 2024 - 8287 2000147048 BAREFOOT , JUSTIN NELSON 1,50946 5 12 2025 8 44 31 AM awstancil 2024 - 56643 2000215461 LASSITER , DAVID WAYNE 27101 5 13 2025 8 26 12 AM PHONE 2024 - 4348 2000209103 ATKINSON , CLEO 30000 5 14 2025 12 08 15 PM awstancil 2024 - 94130 2000258165 VERA , DUANY FERNANDO PEREZ 18641 North Carolina Vehicle Tax System - Pending Refund Report – April 2025 100 +Page304 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Payee Name Bill # Transaction # Refund Total Change Reason CHRISTIAN 0083006326 336926439 Exempt 16348 CONGREGATION Property 11712 OF JEHOVAH’S 3416 WITNESSES 31476 COMSTOCK , 0083207076 336681747 Adjustment 28542 ANDREW 24282 BLAINE 8094 60918 HONEYCUTT , 0083250153 449234012 Situs error 000 BRIAN EDWARD 11087 2723 3696 12060 MASSENBURG , 0068603668 452007076 Situs error 000 MCGREGORY 10010 2156 3000 10854 PHAN , BRANDI 0083665610 451401456 Situs error 000 LYNN 12272 3014 4091 13349 ROBERTS & 0078229816 224990468 Adjustment 21118 WELLONS , INC 4413 25531 WESTGATE 0076919040 224859640 SLVG or 9724 LOGISTICS INC RBLT TTL 2032 11756 3 Public Comments A Recognition of Retiring County Employees Human Resources Director Paulette Williams recognized the following retiring County employees that will be retiring July 1 , 2025 Jeff Lancaster – Technology Services Janet Peszko – Tax Penny Evans – Health B New Johnston County Fire Marshal Emergency Services Director Ryan Parker introduced Johnston County’s newly appointed Fire Marshal , Mr Travis Johnson Mr Parker stated that Mr Johnson has faithfully served the County in the fire service for over 20 years at the Stricklands Crossroads Fire Department and the Benson Fire Department Mr Parker stated Mr Johnson has been a County employee since December 2011 and he is very appreciative of Mr Johnson stepping into this new role Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated he is well acquainted with Mr Johnson and is confident that he will excel as Johnston County’s next Fire Marshal Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr stated Mr Johnson’s advancement highlights the value and opportunities available to County employees and it is important to recognize internal candidates that possess great potential Chairman Lawter stated Johnston County has outstanding employees and this falls in line with the Board’s priorities PagePage pageNumber5305 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued 4 Public Hearing – Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 Johnston County Proposed Budget Advertised – The Johnstonian News and The News in Review – May 21 , 2025 Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr opened the public hearing for the purposes of allowing public comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 County budget The proposed budget and budget message have been completed and copies made available for distribution as well as posted on the County’s website County Manager Rick Hester requested the budget message be inserted into the minutes , as presented Johnston County Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 Budget Summary Dear Board Members , This proposed Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 General Fund budget is presented at 402 million with a 3 cent property tax rate reduction from 67 cents per 100 value to 64 cents Please keep in mind the property tax rate has been reduced 11 cents 78 cents to 67 cents since Fiscal Year 2019 - 2020 This proposed budget reflects the six Board priorities which are Public Safety , Educational Funding , Infrastructure , Land Use , County Employees and Financial Stewardship Please note there will likely be adjustments needed for the proposed budget right up to the June budget meetings As an example , formal appeals for the tax revaluation will possibly be ongoing throughout the Board’s budget deliberations That in itself may be reason to consider this as a two year review by the Board These ad valorem revenue projections are conservative At this proposed tax rate , revenues will greatly exceed expenditures That is not to simply bank taxpayer funds There are large education related capital projects that have been approved by the voters that have not yet been reflected in annual budgets There has been discussion of funding the proposed Clayton High School project the design process is ongoing The actual construction aspect of the project has not yet been formally approved as it is subject to consideration by the Board of Commissioners as well as review and approval by the North Carolina Local Government Commission The Board has discussed the construction of new county government and court related facilities Planning for future debt service for those selected projects will need to occur Maintaining the County’s AAA bond rating is important The day - to - day operational funding for delivering critical county government services is also very important Continuing to maintain and recruit employees in a highly competitive environment is a priority Overall , the proposed General Fund budget includes expenditures for county government operations , debt service obligations , funding for our education partners JCPS and JCC and nonprofit funding Debt service for the General Fund is up 14 With that said , due to the County’s strong bond ratings , there is a one time 9 million bond sale premium to assist with paying debt service for just this upcoming budget year This is one of the positive results from the recent 100 million bond referendum sale from the 2022 voter approved bond referendum This additional premium reflects how the County is viewed in the financial markets Again , this bond premium is only for one year RECOMMENDED FUNDING FOR EDUCATION PARTNERS We enjoy a great working relationship with our education partners , Johnston County Public Schools JCPS and Johnston Community College JCC Recommended preliminary allocations for supplemental current expense plus capital outlay follow Please note these recommendations may change prior to the budget meetings based on additional information between now and June’s budget meetings PagePage pageNumber6306 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued FY 25 - 26 Current Expense FY 25 - 26 Capital Outlay JCPS 107,120,000 3,500,000 JCC 7,750,000 1,200,000 PROPOSED NEW POSITIONS - With October 2025 and Beyond Start Dates General Fund ? Emergency Services - 16 positions ? Social Services - 12 positions plus some reclassifications some positions receive partial reimbursement ? Parks , Greenways and Open Space - 2 full time positions and 2 part - time positions ? Public Health - 3 positions ? 911 Communications - 2 positions ? Tax Office - 2 positions ? Public Information Office - 1 position ? Legal - 1 position ? Register of Deeds - 1 position ? Soil and Water Conservation - 1 position ? Building Inspections - 1 position In addition to the positions noted above , once the new Wilson’s Mills fire station is built , we would respectfully ask for consideration to hire the 8 additional EMS staff that will be needed there Enterprise Funds There are 2 full time positions requested in the Public Utilities Enterprise Fund Proposed Fee Increases in the Enterprise Funds Public Utilities - Please see the Public Utilities memo in the supporting documents section of the proposed budget Solid Waste - Increase yard waste from 20 ton to 25 ton and move the minimum charge from 8 to 10 with an effective date of August 1 , 2025 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION Funds are included for a pay adjustment in July with the potential of a performance pay adjustment later in the fiscal year My recommendation is being finalized and will be presented during the upcoming budget meetings Funds are also budgeted for alternate year pay review adjustments COUNTYWIDE FIRE TAX RATE The countywide fire tax rate will need to be established It is currently 14 cents per 100 valuation BUDGET - RELATED BOARD MEETINGS As a reminder , budget meetings are tentatively scheduled for Monday , June 2 at 10 00 am - Public Hearing Monday , June 9 at 6 00 pm Monday , June 16 at 6 00 pm - proposed budget adoption I look forward to sharing more details about the proposed budget at the June 2 , 2025 public hearing I may have some amendments to present that day as well , as projections can sometimes change quickly A special thanks goes to Chad McLamb , Jocelyn Andrews , Jennifer Slusser , and the County - wide team for their work on this budget It has truly been a team effort PagePage pageNumber7307 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Sincerely , Rick J Hester County Manager Chairman Lawter called for anyone in the audience that wished to speak on the proposed budget to come forward at this time District Attorney District Attorney Susan Doyle expressed her appreciation for the County temporarily funding three positions in her office She stated that despite her hopes , the General Assembly cannot fund these due to Hurricane Helene priorities She stated the workload formula study shows Johnston County needs twelve legal assistant positions ; however , there is only funding available for nine She also stated the E - courts rollout required more staff and she asked the County to continue funding the positions temporarily Ms Doyle stated the workload formula was completed in 2022 before E - courts was implemented and it is recognized that more staffing is needed for the new system She stated two Assistant District Attorneys are necessary in the courtroom due to the workload and implementation of E - courts She reported the Administrative Office of the Courts AOC supports efforts for additional positions , but legislative priorities focus on hurricane relief at this time She emphasized that this is a State responsibility that the County would be covering and it is her intention to go back to the General Assembly to ask for additional positions At the inquiry of Commissioner Ted G Godwin , Ms Doyle stated funding from year to year is uncertain and sometimes random She noted that in 2011 some of the districts split and now she only represents Johnston County She stated in those situations , the resources and positions were split and there were surpluses on one side of that split Commissioner Bill Stovall asked about the original intent of the E - courts system to reduce the workload of employees Ms Doyle reported that after the rollout of E - courts , it was realized that there is latency in the system with delays in accessing cases She stated it is actually more efficient to send two prosecutors to court to help access the cases She noted the AOC has realized it requires more employees to operate the system She stated while there are advantages to the new system , it does require more staff to run efficiently Commissioner Stovall asked if there had been any action by the State to fund additional staff for the system to operate efficiently Ms Doyle responded that at the beginning of the legislative session , the AOC supported the additional positions because they recognized the need with the E - courts implementation ; however , with Hurricane Helene relief efforts , there may not be any positions in this legislative session Commissioner Stovall stated the Johnston County Board of Commissioners authorized an Assistant District Attorney position with a time limit and he asked what is the expectation that the State budget will continue that funding Ms Doyle responded that she does not have an immediate answer but hopes to submit this to the General Assembly Ms Doyle stated she is uncertain at this time what will happen , but the AOC is aware of the needs for the counties that have implemented E - courts Commissioner Stovall asked what happens to the Assistant District Attorney position after June 30 , 2025 when it is no longer funded by the County , and does the Board need to act now related to that position County Manager Rick Hester noted the position was temporarily funded , and if the Board decides to continue that funding , another time limit could be added Mr Hester stated he included funding for the position in the proposed budget Upon a question by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , Ms Doyle requested the Board to continue funding of two legal assistants and one Assistant District Attorney position at a total cost of 256,364 PagePage pageNumber8308 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Commissioner Stovall commented that these positions are the responsibility of the State and the County should consider them with a time limit County Attorney Jennifer Slusser stated when the County approves funding for the positions , a contract is made with the Administrative Office of the Courts on a yearly basis Ms Doyle stated the next legislative session will be a short session and typically does not address budget items , so it would be the next long session before another request could be made Ms Doyle thanked the Board for their support Johnston County Public Schools th Johnston County Public Schools Board of Education Chair Lyn Andrews reported on May 14 there was a bus accident in front of Princeton Elementary involving a bus filled with kids She stated the response from Johnston County Emergency Services , EMS , the Highway Patrol , and several fire departments was prompt and very organized She stated rescue vehicles and ambulances from both Johnston County and Wayne County arrived quickly and they successfully triaged in various locations as well as implemented a reunification process to notify parents Ms Andrews stated the support of Johnston County Emergency Services is crucial and appreciated She stated Emergency Services is well - prepared for such situations due to ongoing practice and collaboration Ms Andrews stated money is well spent in Johnston County Emergency Services Ms Andrews reviewed the following information with the Board Ms Andrews stated when Superintendent Dr Eric Bracy began as Superintendent , there were 16 low - performing schools She stated currently , only one school remains categorized as low performing , down from 16 in 2020 , and it is anticipated that school will improve this year as well PagePage pageNumber9309 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage0310 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage1311 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Andrews noted that when the County funds Johnston County Public Schools , it is also funding local charter schools She stated local funding is divided among all children Ms Andrews clarified that last year the County allocated 104 million and approximately 300,000 was received through fines and forfeitures which was added to the 104 million and that total was then divided by the number of children which equated to the local per pupil expenditure She stated this must be done every month because charter school students often transfer during the year ; therefore , the funds are paid out to the charter schools over the course of ten months Page2312 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage3313 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am ContinuedPage4314 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Andrews pointed out the General Assembly has said that virtual charter schools can now receive funding from the local current expense and she expects that number to grow Commissioner Mike Rose asked about the administrative costs associated with keeping track of the pass - through funding for charter schools Johnston County Schools Chief Financial Officer Stephen Britt stated he has an accountant on his staff where 75 of their job is to calculate and verify the charter schools pass - through funding every month Page5315 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Upon questions by Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Mr Britt clarified that if charter schools do not offer transportation or meal services then they do not receive State and or Federal funds for those specific programs Mr Britt stated the largest benefit of schools having a fund balance is to be able to absorb the inevitable ebb and flow that comes from Federal and State funding He stated for example they lost 500,000 of Title One dollars last year and they had the choice to either absorb that with local dollars or reduce staff He stated having a fund balance allows the school system to absorb the dips in funding Mr Britt stated he is very concerned about low - wealth funding , because there have been other counties around the State where significant financial losses have occurred due to formula calculations He stated for instance , Harnett County Schools lost 6 million last year , and Gaston County could lose up to 8 million this year He stated if those districts do not have a fund balance , they cannot absorb these losses Mr Britt stated having a fund balance allows districts to absorb the losses and then take corrective actions going forward Commissioner Rose noted there had been some questions about textbook funding for the Career and College Promise Program He stated there was a request from Johnston Community College to cover the funding for those textbooks in the amount of 800,000 that had previously been supplied by Johnston County Schools and he asked for more information Ms Andrews confirmed this was the textbooks for the children enrolled in the Career and College Promise Program She stated those textbooks are electronic and this represents a significant amount of money She stated if physical textbooks could be purchased , they could be used over and over again at a reduced cost Johnston County Schools Board of Education Vice Chair Terry Tippett stated Johnston County Public Schools pays approximately 560,000 to Johnston Community College for programs , and they had requested an additional 500,000 He stated they have met with representatives from Johnston Community College to discuss the matter and in that meeting they were told that the College had acquired an additional source and there were no issues Mr Tippett stated it was his and Mr Britt’s understanding that this issue had been settled Mr Tippett stated they have a very good relationship with Johnston Community College and he thinks there may have been some confusion over this issue Upon further discussion regarding the Career and College Promise Program textbooks , Chairman Lawter requested to have a meeting specifically to discuss this matter and get clarification on this funding Ms Andrews shared the following information as it relates to the capital requests Page6316 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Ms Andrews noted that Johnston County Schools has successfully removed 72 mobile units in a year She stated currently 85 mobile units remain with plans to reduce this number as facilities are expanded such as the new Wilson’s Mills High School and the addition at Cleveland High School Ms Andrews expressed her gratitude for the Board’s support of enabling extensive developments including the addition to Cleveland High School , the new Swift Creek Elementary School , and the new Wilsons Mills High School Ms Andrews stated the County has allocated nearly 400 million towards Johnston County Public Schools in just a few years and they are thankful Commissioner Bill Stovall stated concerns have been raised about establishing a preventive maintenance program for Johnston County Schools and asked about employing someone with the appropriate credentials to manage this type of program Ms Andrews stated she feels they have very qualified people to lead Johnston County Schools on preventive maintenance ; however , they are looking at contracting with someone experienced to help guide them through the many ongoing projects Commissioner Stovall spoke about the recurring physical plant management issues and stated Johnston County Schools has a backlog of needs in that regard and there needs to be someone to manage that who understands the plant maintenance side of the equation Ms Andrews stated more discussions could be held because they want the Board of Commissioners to feel confident that the money being distributed is being used in the most effective manner She stated she feels like that is happening now , but she is open to discussing this further Ms Andrews spoke on the importance of having a set schedule amount for future capital funding Chairman Lawter stated the Board has a lot of trust in the information provided by Mr Britt for the financial side and it is paramount to have that same trust as it relates to the management of facilities maintenance especially when talking about having a set 10 million annual capital funding program Mr Tippett stated he does not disagree that Johnston County Schools is behind on maintenance , but he does not feel that is because of a lack of experienced personnel and he asked for more clarification Commissioner Stovall stated the Facilities Condition Assessment identified a deep hole that will take an aggressive program to recover from and prior to that there was no asset management system in which to track the age of equipment as well as have a replacement schedule Commissioner Stovall spoke on the importance of having someone in place with that type of background and there is an expectation that this will be needed in order to not only spend the money wisely but to plan and execute a very aggressive recovery maintenance program over the next decade Mr Tippett stated everyone can agree on the need to make sure Johnston County Schools does not have these maintenance issues in the future Mr Tippett thanked the Board for their support stating their goals of increasing teacher supplements , decreasing vacancies , and working towards the elimination of mobile units hasPage7317 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued occurred through this support Mr Tippett stating going forward everything is on the table and the requested budget is necessary to keep moving forward Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris commented that this is a complicated process and when he came on the Board in 2018 and had his first meeting with school officials he walked away from that meeting with concerns He continued that the transformation since that time has been fantastic with the transparency and collaboration of the two Boards now being very good Vice Chairman Harris stated it is important to keep working together and he appreciates the willingness to answer all the Board’s questions Commissioner Rose commented that at the end of the day , it is the people of Johnston County that pay for the schools and they are the ones that should receive the thanks Harbor Inc Executive Director Kay Johnson with Harbor Inc addressed the Board and introduced the Harbor Board of Directors Chair Ruth Anderson and Board Members Dana Wooten , Carly Riley , and Melissa Overton She noted that Clayton Mayor Pro - Tem Michael Sims was present earlier but had another engagement Ms Johnson expressed her gratitude to the Board for their continued support She stated she has been with Harbor for nine years , consistently requesting assistance for this nonprofit organization based on emerging trends Ms Johnson provided two presentations to the Board , one addressing domestic violence and the other focusing on their sexual assault response project Ms Johnson stated in reflecting on this morning’s remarks , she found herself to be more anxious now than nine years ago Ms Johnson elaborated that the reason for this anxiety is because she understands the severity of domestic violence in Johnston County Ms Johnson stated from the Board’s past support it has enabled Harbor to hire 25 staff members She stated it was anticipated that the designation of Johnston County as a pilot program for E - courts in 2023 would present significant challenges for her staff She stated at that time there was one full time and one part time court advocate to serve individuals effectively Ms Johnson continued that since then , thanks to the County’s funding last year , they have hired two full - time court advocates , a part - time administrative assistant , and a community advocate She stated their court advocacy program has seen a 52 increase and just last week alone they encountered 13 strangulation cases within three days She stated on average , the court advocates spend 25 hours with each client , though they have yet to utilize E - courts because they have not had the time to train on this new system due to their workload Ms Johnson stated on average , Harbor serves up to 15 individuals from 8 30 am until 4 30 pm on a Monday morning She stated this additional training will be essential as they transition to E - File and Serve which is expected to add 30 minutes to an hour per client She stated the rising severity and number of cases necessitate the hiring of two additional full - time court advocates to meet all the needs She stated with increased population comes increased crime , including domestic violence , as is evidenced by the increase in homicides related to domestic violence Ms Johnson stated they are continuing to see an increase in the need for shelter for those seeking safety from imminent danger , and Harbor will continue to provide those services She spoke on a situation recently were they successfully secured safe accommodation for a sexual assault victim and this was made possible with support from their partner agencies including the Sheriff’s Office Ms Johnson stated this year has been very traumatic and helping individuals navigate their situations takes time with the court system She stated Harbor’s services including core advocacy , emergency shelter , trauma - informed therapy , and more are provided at no cost to their clients She stated they have experienced a 15 increase in the number of people served , with projections exceeding 3,100 individuals by the end of the fiscal year She stated the needs of the County are overwhelming , and the Board’s support is pivotal in meeting those needs Ms Johnson thanked the Board for their past support and offered to answer any questions regarding their increased funding request Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked about the Sahari Center Ms Johnson explained the Sahari Center is their sexual assault response project , which is a collaboration between UNC Health , Smithfield , Clayton , Johnston County Public Health , the District Attorneys Office , the Sheriffs Office , and other local law enforcement agencies The Board thanked Ms Johnson for the information Page8318 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Triangle Land Conservancy Ms Leigh Ann Hammerbacher with Triangle Land Conservancy addressed the Board Ms rd Hammerbacher stated they going on their 43 year working to protect open space in the Triangle region She stated during that time , they have helped preserve more than 25,000 acres in their six - county region , including Johnston County She stated Triangle Land Conservancy is the only land trust that serves Johnston County and they are working hard to protect working lands , wild lands , and natural areas in Johnston County Ms Hammerbacher stated to date over the last three years , the County has designated 19 million which helped leverage 20 million in land value and protect over 2,000 acres of local farms , forests , and natural areas Ms Hammerbacher stated this year , the Triangle Land Conservancy is requesting 1395 million to support conservation efforts She stated this funding will help leverage an additional 7 million in State and private funds , allowing the Triangle Land Conservancy to protect over 1,000 acres She stated specifically , it will help finalize the Rose Dairy Project , protect wetlands along Buffalo Creek , and preserve an additional working farm outside of Smithfield She stated 1 million of the request will help leverage 35 million to protect over 800 acres along the Neuse River , ensuring important cultural , historical , and natural areas are conserved including the Mountains to Sea Trail She stated on all of the projects the Triangle Land Conservancy has applied for State Trust Funds She stated there is a cutoff date of July 1 , 2025 to get an update on local funding She stated the Board of Commissioners ’ support will help the Triangle Land Conservancy continue its mission and provide significant economic benefits to Johnston County , including increasing neighboring property values by about 25 She offered to answer any questions Upon a question by Commissioner Mike Rose , Ms Hammerbacher stated 250,000 is still needed to complete the Rose Dairy Project She stated the original request was 500,000 , but they reduced it by securing State Trail funding and other unexpected sources Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris asked for the total request for this year Ms Hammerbacher stated their total request this year is 1395 million to support conservation efforts She offered to provide tours and additional information to the Board if appropriate Commissioner Ted G Godwin reported there will be an Agriculture Department Trust Fund Advisory Committee meeting tomorrow afternoon He asked if any of their activities interface with Triangle Land Conservancy’s efforts Ms Hammerbacher stated the Triangle Land Conservancy works closely with these agencies and there are quarterly meetings that occur to share projects and provide support to each other Johnston Community College Johnston Community College President Dr Vern Lindquist thanked the Board of Commissioners for considering the College’s budget request He stated despite the growth , staff has made this request a modest increase to accommodate rising enrollment numbers , which are up 25 this summer and are expected to be up 16 - 19 this fall He stated the College looks forward to working with the Board and Johnston County Schools to address any concerns , particularly as it relates to textbooks for the Career and College Promise Program He offered to answer any questions Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked for the timeframe on completion of the Manufacturing Workforce Development Center Dr Lindquist responded that everything is on schedule and it should be complete by the end of June Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr noted that he would like for Dr Lindquist to participate in the meeting about the textbooks for the Career and College Promise Program Other Public Comments Ms Tess Schulman , 2001 Elizabeth Court , Clayton , addressed the Board Ms Schulman stated she has questions about the property tax rate in the proposed budget She stated in the proposed budget she did not see the revenue neutral tax rate listed and she asked for that information Page9319 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr clarified that this is the County Manager’s proposed budget and the Board will be setting the final tax rate in the final budget adoption County Manager Rick Hester shared that the preliminary recommendations and revenue neutral information is in the proposed budget document He stated the tax appeals are ongoing and he would keep the Board updated on that progress Mr Hester stated the estimated revenue neutral tax rate was somewhere between 48 and 50 cents Ms Schulman spoke on the tax revaluation stating her house is not served by County water or sewer and the nearest fire hydrant is 125 miles away She stated her property is a restricted lot in a watershed that prohibits any further improvements or development She also stated the neighborhood’s road is privately maintained and the neighborhood consists of mostly retired citizens on fixed incomes She stated their properties individually increased in value by 646 which will cost them more each year if the current proposed tax rate is the one adopted Ms Schulman stated the fire district rate must also be considered and noted that last year saw a county - wide rate of 14 cents She stated the proposed budget also indicates there will be increased rates for water and sewer which would further burden homeowners if connections are made available in her neighborhood Ms Schulman reiterated that many residents in her area are on fixed incomes and inflation continues to be a concern Ms Schulman stated she does not disagree with the allocation of her tax dollars for things like education or services associated with groups like Harbor and the Triangle Land Conservancy ; however , she does have a problem with money allocated towards the Industrial Development Fund Ms Schulman expressed concerns with funds being set aside for companies like Novo Nordisk , considering their large profit margins , and she would like further information on exactly where these funds are going in the budget Mr Hester stated the Industrial Development Fund referenced by Ms Schulman pertains to the Economic Development Incentive Grants EDIG He stated these grants are when companies make investments in the County and the Board agrees to incentive grants which are based on the company’s own investments as well as other components like job creation Mr Hester stated he can provide a detailed list for Ms Schulman Commissioner Ted G Godwin stated in a competitive environment , if the County did not have the EDIG program available to attract industries , then the companies would not invest in the County and create jobs for the citizens Commissioner Godwin noted the program is based on the company’s own tax dollars and if the companies were not here and paying taxes then the County would not have the incentive grant program Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris commented that Ms Schulman has asked very good questions , and the County Manager’s proposal is only part of the entire budget process He stated the Board takes the County Manager’s proposal and refines the budget , deciding on what to include or exclude He stated this is still a work in progress Vice Chairman Harris noted the EDIG program does not utilize citizen tax dollars He stated the grants are only made after that industry pays their taxes and it is a portion of those funds that are used to create the grant paid to the company in exchange for their investment and job creation Upon questions by Ms Schulman , Vice Chairman Harris explained that these businesses do not receive a property tax waiver He stated they pay the same property tax rate as everyone else and for a limited amount of time , they get a portion of that back as a grant to encourage investment in the County with job creation He noted that the Novo Nordisk investment is scheduled to create 1,000 new jobs for the County He reiterated this is a program that only occurs for a limited amount of time and is used to create attractive jobs for the residents Ms Schulman continued to question the incentive grant program for industries stating many are already established in Johnston County , while there are citizens who are feeling the pinch in their property taxes Ms Schulman stated she finds it extremely offensive to incentivize multi - billion dollar companies when there are residents living on fixed incomes Ms Schulman asked the Board to consider her concerns as they decide on the budget Commissioner Godwin thanked Ms Schulman for her questions stating there are other citizens out there that have the same questions Chairman Lawter reported the Board received emails from the following individuals on the proposed budget Debbie Wells Gustav FalkenmeyerPage0320 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Kristopher Bernard James Michael Suggs Pat Le Chairman Lawter stated the emails received were very similar to Ms Schulman’s comments There being no further comments , the Chairman closed the public hearing and noted two additional meetings are scheduled to hear from the public regarding the budget He announced the dates as follows Monday , June 9 , 2025 at 6 00 pm Special Meeting for budget discussions Monday , June 16 , 2025 at 6 00 pm Anticipated budget adoption 5 Department of Social Services – Proclamation for Elder Abuse Awareness Day Department of Social Services Program Manager LV McKillion requested the Board to proclaim June 15 , 2025 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day Mr McKillion stated the elderly population is the cornerstone of the community and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect He stated the Department of Social Services encourages the citizens to commit to protecting the safety of the older residents He invited the Board to attend th th the 10 annual awareness walk event being held on Thursday , June 19 at 10 00 am at the Department of Social Services campus He stated everyone is encouraged to wear purple to represent the elimination of abuse , neglect , and exploitation of the elderly population Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris expressed pride in the Department of Social Services staff He recognized DSS Board Chairman James Coleman and commended the department for their work Commissioner Ted G Godwin read aloud the following proclamation for Elder Abuse Awareness Day and moved for its adoption , seconded by Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously Proclamation Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15 , 2025 WHEREAS , Johnston County includes over 35,000 citizens age 60 and older that deserve to live safely with dignity and as independently as possible , with the supports they need ; and WHEREAS , elder abuse is most often defined as any act that harms a senior or jeopardizes his or her health , safety or welfare ; and WHEREAS , Johnston County’s older population is a vital , important part of the community that contributes to the social and cultural education of future generations ; and WHEREAS , identifying , reporting and eliminating abuse , neglect and exploitation to older persons is each community’s responsibility ; and WHEREAS , all residents should watch for signs of physical abuse , withdrawal , depression , anxiety , fear , and living without necessities such as food , heat , air and medicine and make it known to proper institutions Now Therefore We , the Johnston County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim June 15 , 2025 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Johnston County and encourages everyone to commit to protecting the safety and future of our older citizens nd Adopted this the 2 day of June , 2025 th 6 Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District – Proclamation for 60 Anniversary Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation District Director Greg Walker introduced Supervisor Charles Hill and staff members Annette Adams , Payton Lane , and Elton Wilson Mr Walker stated staff provides technical and programmatic support to the agricultural farmers and producers He stated their new initiative now is farmland preservation Mr Walker stated the Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation District houses the conservation partnership which is a group of County , State , and Federal personnel to assistPage1321 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued farm producers Mr Walker stated he has served four years as Director and he spoke on the farm books and engineering field books in the office that date back to 1941 and how detailed those books are as it relates to the dates , personnel , design , layout , and weather all those years ago He stated the staff has always had a heavy workload and historically the Johnston County field office has been a training office for State and Federal employees He stated the landscape , agriculture , and quality of personnel have been remarkable in Johnston County He stated it is the mission to continue this work on natural resources and now farmland preservation th Mr Walker thanked the Board for commemorating the 60 anniversary of the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis read aloud the following proclamation for Johnston Soil and Water th Conservation District’s 60 Anniversary and moved for its adoption , seconded by Commissioner Ted G Godwin , and carried unanimously JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Proclamation Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District 60th Anniversary 1965 - 2025 WHEREAS , Dr Hugh Hammond Bennett , a native of North Carolina , led the soil conservation movement in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s urging the nation to address the “ national menace ” of soil erosion and expressed the need for farmer participation , thus the idea of soil conservation districts was recognized ; and WHEREAS , with Dr Bennett’s urging , in February 1937 President Franklin D Roosevelt wrote to state governors , enclosing the standard enabling act and recommending that each state adopt such a law as part of an effective national effort to conserve the soil by the end of 1937 ; and WHEREAS , the Neuse River Soil Conservation District comprised Orange , Durham , Wake , Wilson and Johnston Counties was created and was instrumental in improving the county’s natural resources from 1937 until 1965 when it was dissolved into individual county districts , and the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District was officially established as a single - county conservation district on January 1 , 1965 ; and WHEREAS , The Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District is one of ninety - six conservation districts which cover all of North Carolina , is a legal independent subdivision of state government , and is led by three publicly elected officials and two appointed Johnston County residents known as Conservation District Supervisors who provide leadership for local stewardship of natural resources ; and WHEREAS , The Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District’s mission is to provide technical , educational , and financial assistance to Johnston County landowners for the protection and preservation of our natural resources ; and WHEREAS , January 1 , 2025 , marks the 60th anniversary of the Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District representing notable achievements in their efforts to management and stewardship of the county’s natural resources NOW THEREFORE , the Johnston County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim January 1 , 2025 as the “ 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOHNSTON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ” and commend its celebration to all citizens nd This 2 day of June , 2025 Commissioner Bill Stovall shared a success story where Mr Walker facilitated assistance for a citizen Commissioner Stovall stated in February he contacted Mr Walker about a gentleman that lives off of Hwy 701 that had water backing up on his property for years and was interested in a stream clearing program Commissioner Stovall stated Mr Walker’s immediate response was that it was a beaver problem and he provided contact information for Nick Ryan at USDA to provide assistance Commissioner Stovall reported that the gentleman made contact with Mr Ryan who assessed the situation and provided assistance to mitigate the problem Commissioner Stovall stated the gentleman was very appreciative of the referral and the assistance was very effective Page2322 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Commissioner Michelle Pace Davis commented that Nick Ryan is one of her former students from Corinth Holder High School and it was a dream then of Mr Ryan to work in natural resources Commissioner Davis thanked Mr Walker and his staff for all they do 7 Hope Center Ministries – Update to the Board Hope Center Ministries Vice President of Partner Relations Mark Hall addressed the Board and stated he lives in Johnston County , specifically the Selma area , between Micro and Selma Mr Hall stated it is a privilege to stand before the County Commissioners and share information about Hope Center Ministries He stated many of the Board are familiar with his journey over the past sixteen years and he is grateful to be able to discuss the developments over the last five years since returning home Mr Hall stated as the Vice President of Partner Relations he serves the ministry across the globe He stated Hope Center Ministries is a seventeen - year - old organization with fifty - one campuses across the United States and ten international locations , including a recently opened center for women in Thailand and another in Belise for men Mr Hall stated his heart remains in Johnston County Mr Hall stated the most significant project he is dedicated to is the new asset coming to Johnston County He stated Hope Center has been present in North Carolina for over four years , with three campuses in Wayne County , two for men and one for women He stated the intention was to make an impact in Johnston County before seeking any assistance or financial support , allowing the community to witness their men and women positively influencing the area Mr Hall stated Hope Center works with individuals struggling with addiction and alcoholism , offering more than just recovery and treatment programs He stated while funding sources like the opioid settlement money are available , what they are doing goes beyond that Mr Hall stated the focus is on rebuilding lives post - crisis and providing pathways and opportunities for sustained improvement Mr Hall stated the Hope Center aims to develop workforce skills and foster public safety through collaboration with court systems and law enforcement The model integrates government , corporate , and small business efforts alongside ministry work He stated the newest campus in Johnston County , located in Wilsons Mills on Swift Creek Road , opened approximately sixty days ago , accommodating up to thirty residents at a time He stated the facility opened debt - free thanks to four years of collaborative community effort He stated the second phase is to bring a men’s center to Eastfield Mr Hall spoke on the impact of the Hope Center to the community He stated several residents have retained jobs in Johnston County after leaving the Hope Center and they are continuing to work to get residents to a point of being productive members of the community Mr Hall stated so much of their support has come from companies and churches in Johnston County and they are seeking experts in the area to help them with their construction projects not only in Johnston County , but Harnett County as well as Goldsboro and Dunn He stated their model is self - sustainable and can have a huge impact on the community Mr Hall requested the Board to consider assistance to open the facility at Eastfield He stated they are hoping to locate a national call center in Johnston County and have identified property near the hospital on Hwy 42 as a potential location Mr Hall shared a video with the Board on Hope Center Ministries He stated with the development of the facility at Eastfield there will be 65 program beds available in Johnston County Vice Chairman Patrick E Harris stated he toured the facility at Wilsons Mills and it was very impressive He stated the work they are doing is remarkable Vice Chairman Harris stated he spoke with an individual that was part of the program who shared how the program had changed his life Mr Hall reported that across Hope Center Ministries , there are 160 employees and over 50 are program graduates who have achieved sobriety , independent living , and self - sufficiency He introduced Douglas Moore , a Johnston County native and Hope Center graduate , who is expected to become the Director of the Princeton Campus in Wayne County Commissioner Mike Rose shared that he has witnessed the transformation of an individual who struggled with addiction , enter the Hope Center and emerge as a productive and healthy person Mr Hall thanked the Board for allowing him to speak 8 Appointments Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr announced that the votes for the Board of Equalization and Review , Johnston Community College Board of Trustees , Johnston County Jury Commission , Johnston - Lee - HarnettPage3323 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued Community Action , Juvenile Crime Prevention Council , Library Board of Trustees and the Local Emergency Planning Commission would be done by written ballot Chairman Lawter stated the results would be tallied and certified upon adjournment and announced at the 6 00 pm meeting Ballots were distributed to the Commissioners who completed their votes , signed the ballots , and submitted them to the Clerk to the Board Note At the 6 00 pm meeting , the Chairman announced the following appointments were made as a result of the ballot votes Board of Equalization and Review – Dr Shiquita P Blue was appointed for a four year term to expire on June 30 , 2029 and Jeffrey Lee Franks was appointed to fill an unexpired term ending June 30 , 2028 Johnston Community College Board of Trustees – Lynn Ragsdale was reappointed for a four year term to expire on June 30 , 2029 Johnston County Jury Commission – Thomas L Turnage was reappointed for a two year term to expire on June 30 , 2027 and received a waiver in the length of service policy Johnston - Lee - Harnett Community Action – Alexia Walker was appointed to fill an unexpired term ending April 30 , 2026 Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – Jackie Holloman Lee , James L Spencer , and Douglas Wayne Sorrell were reappointed and Vonda Martin Jenkins was appointed all representing General Public for two year terms to expire on June 30 , 2027 with Mr Sorrell receiving a waiver in the length of service policy Dr Takicey M Dunston representing Member of Faith Community , L’Bertrice Solomon representing Non - Profit Agency , and Towanda C Garner representing Substance Abuse Professional were appointed for two year terms to expire on June 30 , 2027 Library Board of Trustees – Martha Mills and Donna Daughtry were reappointed for three year terms to expire on June 30 , 2028 Local Emergency Planning Committee – Steve Strickland representing Health , Todd Ramsey representing Environmental , Beth Stewart representing Media , and Marie Rogers representing Community Groups were reappointed for two year terms to expire on June 30 , 2027 9 Delinquent Tax Collection Report Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews presented the following report on the collection of delinquent taxes for the month of April 2025 Enforced Collections April 2025 YTD 24 25 Wage Garnishments 424 302 Bank Attachments 108 845 Levies 0 0 Foreclosures Complaints Filed April 2025 0 Pending 4 Dollars Collected April 2025 0 Sale Date No sale scheduled at this time Levy Amount and Collections to Date 2024 Real and Personal Levy 2023 Real and Personal Levy As of April 30 , 2025 As of April 30 , 2024 171,382,29440 Levy 169,480,32686 Levy 170,465,35618 Payments 168,836,49774 Payments 916,93822 Balance 643,82912 Balance 9946 Collected 9962 Collected - 016 RMV – NCVTS Collections April 2025 April 2024 1,996,88870 1,968,53752Page4324 June 2 , 2025 – 10 00 am Continued YTD 24 25 - 19,440,36391 YTD 23 24 - 18,032,94724 Ms Andrews stated at the last meeting , she was asked to update the Board on property tax relief applications , particularly for disabled veterans and elderly and disabled homeowners She stated the Tax Office received 431 total applications last year for property tax relief and to date , have already received 642 this year She noted today at 5 00 pm is the deadline to apply She stated citizens are realizing the State offers tax relief programs in the counties and she noted the State sets the guidelines for these programs Ms Andrews explained the guidelines as follows • Elderly or Disabled Exclusions Applicants must be 65 years of age or totally and permanently disabled In addition , the total combined income of both the applicant and his her spouse cannot exceed 37,900 For unmarried joint property owners , each owner must apply separately and benefit limitations may apply based on the percentage of ownership • Disabled Veteran Exclusion Honorably discharged disabled veteran who , has a total and permanent , service connected , disability or , receives benefits for specially adapted housing under 38 USC 2101 This benefit may also apply to the surviving spouse who has not remarried of a disabled veteran as defined above • Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Program Applicants must be 65 year of age or totally and permanently disabled The total income for both the applicant and his her spouse cannot exceed 56,850 For unmarried joint property owners , each owner must apply and qualify separately Additionally , all owners must have owned and occupied the residence for the previous five years Ms Andrews also referenced the Present Use Valuation program which provides property tax deferral for qualified agricultural , horticultural and forestry tracts as well as agricultural land used for aquatic species She stated year to date last year , the Tax Office received 138 new applications and this year so far staff has received 209 Ms Andrews stated the appeal process for the revaluation continues with the Board of Equalization and Review hearing formal appeals regularly She stated there were 2,023 appeals with 754 completed or withdrawn to date She stated 779 are scheduled to be heard in the next two weeks , 413 are ready to be scheduled and 355 are tied to specific appellants She stated there are 77 left to be worked by staff Ms Andrews stated the Board of Equalization and Review is comprised of a group of very hardworking volunteer citizens committed to hearing the appeals She stated the Board takes their job very seriously and they have met for a total of eight full days She stated there will be three more meetings over the next two weeks and shortly after that they hope to complete all the appeals Ms Andrews stated by law , once citizens receive their decision letter , they then have 30 days from the date of the letter to appeal to the Property Tax Commission Ms Andrews stated although this process can be challenging for everyone , it is necessary to make sure the citizens are being heard as to what they believe their value should be Ms Andrews stated approximately half of the County’s budget funding comes from ad valorem taxes She stated due to the significant number of appeals , some of which involve large values , this year is a little more difficult for the Board because staff does not have all the information yet She stated there is still so much uncertainty to this year and this makes the Board’s job of adopting a budget that much harder Ms Andrews stated the Tax Office is continuing to update the County Manager as often as possible and strives to provide the best numbers possible so the Board can make the best decisions She offered to answer any questions Commissioner Mike Rose inquired if the total property value figures could be provided in comparison with last years data Ms Andrews responded that information is being assembled today and she would provide that to the Board as soon as possible At the inquiry of Chairman RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr , Ms Andrews stated the total amount under appeal was 26 billion and a little over half of that remains and has not yet been heard She stated the next two weeks will be important because a full day of commercial values will be heard next week Commissioner Ted G Godwin asked how many property values chang