Johnston County Board of Commissioners Adopt FY 23-24 Budget

June 19, 2023

For Immediate Release:

Smithfield, NC - The Johnston County Board of Commissioners adopted a $351 million budget at this evening's regularly scheduled Board meeting. Commissioners approved a reduction to the property tax rate from 73 cents per $100 of property value to 69 cents per $100 of property value.

"This Board continues to let our priorities guide us in the upcoming fiscal year by maintaining our role as financial stewards of County funds," said Board Chairman, Butch Lawter. "We have made an effort to emphasize every priority in this budget including public safety, education funding, infrastructure, land use, County employee retention and recruitment, and financial stewardship. This budget is a direct reflection of many hours of careful planning and foresight and I want to thank the rest of the Board and County staff for helping us pass a balanced budget."

Commissioners appropriated a total of $88,497,179 to Johnston County Public Schools for current expenses, while also approving $6 million for capital outlay. The Board also approved up to $4 million to 911 communications for communications operability improvements in schools.

Johnston Community College will receive $6,912,390 for current expenses and $1.2 million for capital outlay. Commissioners also voted to approve $50,000 to the Veterans Services Office to assist local veterans with transportation.

Funding highlights from this year's budget include:

A 5% pay adjustment for County employees in July with the possibility of a 2% performance pay adjustment in October.
The Town of Micro will receive up to $180,000 for the Micro community building project subject to project updates prior to disbursement of funds.
The Board approved $325,000 to Harbor of Johnston County.
$100,000 will be appropriated to Project Access.
An appropriation of $100,000 to My Kids Club.
Princeton Little Tar Heel League will receive $100,000.
The Board appropriated $45,000 to Smithfield Rescue Mission.
Designate present use value rollback funds on a recurring fiscal year basis for land preservation projects that would be approved by the Board on a case by case basis.
An appropriation of $825,000 to the Triangle Land Conservancy using $110,000 from PUV Rollback and $715,000 from the County's General Fund.
Community and Senior Services will receive an additional $12,000 for the match needed for their increased Home and Community Care block grant.
Appropriate a sum of $650,000, one-time, to the solid waste fund for solid waste convenience centers to transition away from the decal program starting in fiscal year 2024-2025. Decals will be sold quarterly on a prorated basis for fiscal year 2023-2024.

Q1: $100

Q2: $75

Q3: $50

Q4: $25

The Board will evaluate an enterprise fund availability fee to be adopted at a later meeting for implementation in fiscal year 2024-2025.

Commissioners approved a one-time, $4.2 million allocation for the start of phase two of the fire tax funding matrix. They also instructed staff to create a single County fire protection service district. The Board will move to adopt a Countywide fire service district based on fire protection service needs effective in fiscal year 2024-2025.
Approval of individual fire tax service district rate adjustments.

Brogden Fire Department: $0.12
Selma Fire Department: $0.13
Antioch Fire Department: $0.10
North Side Fire Department: $0.12
Wilson's Mills Fire Department: $0.08
Claytex Fire District: $0.15
50/210 Fire Department: $0.095

Reduce expenses in manager's proposed budget by $22 million. The majority of these expenses are designated as capital-outlay related.
Appropriate $550,000 to the Johnston County Economic Development Corporation to develop and fund an economic development program in Johnston County to attract new or expanding businesses with the JoCo Building Reuse Program.
Concurrence with the RTZ Board on maintaining an eight cents property tax rate in the RTZ.

To learn more about the adopted Johnston County fiscal year 2023-2024 budget, visit www.johnstonnc.com/budget.

Johnston County Public Information Office

P.O. Box 1049
207 E. Johnston St.
Smithfield, N.C. 27577
Phone: (919) 938-6427
Email: PIO@JohnstonNC.com