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Property-tax rates still unsettled as deadline
looms for adopting county and town budgets

The big question remains unanswered following this week's public hearings on proposed budgets for the County of Johnston and the Town of Smithfield: What will be the new property-tax rates in the wake of real-estate revaluation?

The answer will depend in large part on what the County Commissioners and the Town Council decide to fund, and not fund, in their respective budgets. Another big piece of the puzzle is the collective result of property owners' ongoing appeals of new values assigned to their holdings.

Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews told County Commissioners Monday that the county's Tax Office and Board of Equalization and Review have been working through more than 2,000 revaluation appeals involving $2.6 billion. At this point, about half of that remains unsettled as the appeals process grinds toward a close within the next couple of weeks, she said. "Some of those are high-dollar appeals," she said, referring to industries and other commercial entities.

July 1 is the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, which means the county and town governing bodies must finalize their budgets this month.
 

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Town's budget hearing draws minimal response

A handful of citizens arose to speak yet had little to say to the Town Council about specifics in Manager Mike Scott's proposed budget during Tuesday's public hearing.

What did emerge was a proposal from Councilman Travis Scott (no relation to the manager) to cancel a proposed 3.5% residential electric-rate increase in light of a windfall in the Electric Fund from an ElectriCities "defeasance debt" being paid off this month. That indebtedness, through Smithfield's wholesale provider of electricity, has been costing the town $96,352 monthly.

"We need to make sure our rate structure has minimal impact on our residents," Councilman Scott insisted. A decision on his proposal was put off till a subsequent budget session yet to be scheduled.

Financial gifts authorized for Marlon Lee's family

Amidst a flurry of tributes from citizens as well as council members to Marlon Lee, who died unexpectedly May 25, Councilman Scott made a motion to grant compensation Mr. Lee would have received over a 12-month period to his two children and to waive fees for his burial at the town's Sunset Memorial Park cemetery.

His motion won unanimous approval from council members present at Tuesday's meeting. However, the action is contingent upon Town Attorney Bob Spence's review of state statues to ensure that such transactions are permissible.

A full year's allowance for council members totals $7,500. A burial plot in West Smithfield's Sunset cemetery is listed at $1,000. The grave-opening fee is $750.

Regarding the council's decision on appointing a replacement for Mr. Lee, Mayor Andy Moore told Tuesday's gathering that "there is no time line" for getting that done. "We don't know what the process will be at this moment," he said, adding that "it will be a transparent process" and "will be publicized every way we can."

Councilman Lee's seat as representative of East Smithfield's District 1 is up for election in November. The filing period for candidates opens at noon July 7 and closes at noon July 18.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Mayor Moore had proclaimed June 3 as "Marlon Lee Day" in Smithfield.

Late councilman's plea for crosswalk added to budget

Town Manager Scott said $10,000 has been added to his original budget proposal to pay for a crosswalk on Martin Luther King Drive between Smith-Collins Park and the Splash Park. That was one of Councilman Lee's recent requests, Councilman Scott pointed out.

Manager Scott said the $10,000 is included in a revised budget total of $68,810 for operation and maintenance of the nearby Sarah Yard Center, where a similar crosswalk was installed on Lee Street a year or so ago. That was also done at Councilman Lee's insistence.

What about the manager's proposed property-tax rate?

Manager Scott has recommended reducing the town's property-tax rate from 57 cents per $100 to 47 cents in the wake of real-estate revaluation, which has raised total property values in Smithfield by 70% from last year to this. "I certainly hope we can get the tax rate down lower than what the manager has proposed," Mayor Andy Moore told Tuesday's audience.

Manager Scott defended his proposal with a prediction that "Smithfield is likely to be the cheapest place to live in Johnston County" even with a 47-cent tax rate coupled with the town's lower-than-most utility rates. A "revenue neutral" property-tax rate for Smithfield with this year's revaluation would be 42 cents, according to the manager's calculation based on a formula from the N.C. Local Government Commission.

South Third Street resurfacing contract awarded

The council awarded the contract to low-bidder Daniels Inc. of Garner to repair and repave about a mile of South Third from Johnston Street Downtown to US 301 (Bright Leaf Boulevard). The price is $241,955. Public Works Director Lawrence Davis told the council he did not have a schedule for when the work will be done since the town didn't receive contractors' bids until Monday of this week.

Meanwhile, Town Manager Scott announced that reconstruction of Outlet Center Drive is scheduled to begin this coming Monday. The council last month awarded a contract to S.T. Wooten at a cost of $875,511 for that long-awaited project.

Both of those major resurfacing projects are being paid for out of the town's General Fund reserves, which had grown to more than $17.6 million at the end of fiscal 2023-24 last June 30.

Town to upgrade parking-lot lighting at college

Director of Utilities Ted Credle said parking lots at Johnston Community College are scheduled for repaving this summer. To complement that work, he asked the council to approve an expenditure of $226,493 to order 152 LED lights and 95 poles to provide what he called "significant additions to the lighting."

The council approved his request after Mr. Credle pointed out that the town collects about $8,900 a month from JCC for electrical service. At that rate the town will recoup the investment in new lighting in "just over two years," he said.

The town will purchase the lights and poles from Wesco (formerly known as Westinghouse, based in Pittsburgh, PA).
 

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County budget hearing also short on public input

Only one taxpaying citizen stood before Johnston's County Commissioners during Monday's public hearing to air a complaint about the proposed county budget for the year ahead. Not surprisingly, it was a complaint spurred by recent property revaluations.

First of all, Tess Schulman of Clayton wanted to know what would be the county's "revenue neutral" tax rate in the wake of revaluation. The answer: 48-50 cents per $100, replied County Manager Rick Hester, whose proposed budget is based on a new rate of 64 cents – just three cents below the past year's rate – even though the newly assessed total value of Johnston's real estate has risen an astounding 70% from previous countywide revaluation six years ago.

Referring to the county's program providing cash incentives to new or expanding industry, Ms. Schulman objected to "a large chunk of money going to a very profitable company while you bleed homeowners dry." She was referring to the county's contract to refund a portion of property taxes to be paid by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk in return for meeting capital-investment and job-creating goals.

"I find it extremely offensive," Ms. Schulman said of the planned payments to Novo, noting that revaluation has raised her property's assessment by 64.6%.

Commissioners defended the county's incentives as necessary to compete with other counties to land good-paying jobs, and they emphasized that percentage increases in property values won't be matched by a similar percentage jump in this year's county tax bills. "That's not the way it's going to look when it's all said and done," Commissioner Patrick Harris assured Ms. Schulman.

A decision on the new tax rate will come as a result of two budget sessions scheduled by the board: at 6 p.m. next Monday (June 9) and at 6 p.m. the following Monday (June 16), both at the Courthouse.

School board presents two $10-million requests

Most of Monday's hearing on the budget was taken up by the Board of Education's plea for a $10-million increase in county funding for operating Johnston's public schools. Board Chair Lyn Andrews said the request is up from the past year's $104 million despite $997,607 in "reduced department expenses."

Putting pressure on the school system, Ms. Andrews noted, are "reduced vacancy savings" from Johnston's success in personnel recruitment and retention, an anticipated cut in state "low wealth" funding for Johnston, plus rising costs for curriculum materials and utility bills for heating and cooling school buildings.

"The state needs to give us more money," she said.

Besides the request for more operating funds, the school board seeks $10.9 million from the county for capital outlay. That includes $2,377,000 for HVAC upgrades and $2,290,750 for parking-lot work at a number of campuses, $1,451,525 for cameras on 330 school buses, and other facility improvements.

Commissioner Bill Stovall said he's concerned about the recent loss of Brooks Moore as the schools' facilities and construction manager. "You have a tremendous backlog of needs" in school maintenance, he said as he urged employment of highly qualified successor to Mr. Books, who has moved over to Johnston Community College as director of capital projects. "Having trust in people in that role is paramount," added Commissioners' Chairman Bruce Lawter.

Requests from DA, Harbor, TLC, and a new ministry

• District Attorney Susan Doyle asked commissioners to continue county funding of three positions in her office she had hoped the state would pick up in its budget for the coming year. That hope has been put on hold, she said, because of other pressing priorities facing the N.C. General Assembly, led by Hurricane Helene relief.

County Manager Hester said $256,364 is included in his proposed budget to cover the cost of the positions for another year: one assistant district attorney and two legal assistants. Ms. Doyle said that would keep her office at the state's recommended staffing level of 12. The state funds nine of those slots.

• Kay Johnson, executive director of Harbor Inc., asked the county to fund two additional full-time "court advocates" and another part-time position to care for a continuing increase in cases of domestic abuse in Johnston. She said: "I'm more anxious now than I was nine years ago" when she took job.

The program served about 2,300 victims in 2016, she noted; this year's number is projected to exceed 3,100. Her request to the county is for $500,000 in the year ahead – up from annual appropriations of $325,000 over the past two years.

• Leigh Ann Hammerbacher of the Triangle Land Conservancy asked commissioners for a contribution of $1,395,000 to continue the agency's efforts in preserving farmland and wildlife habitats in Johnston. The county budgeted $500,000 for TLC this past year and all of that has been allocated, Ms. Hammerbacher reported.

• Mark Hall of Hope Center Ministries asked the board for assistance in paying for a shelter for men seeking recovery for drug and alcohol addiction. He said it's envisioned for a site in Selma's Eastfield development and would complement the recent opening of a shelter for women near Wilson's Mills. (Mr. Hall did not submit a dollar amount with his request, County Manager Hester told the Weekly Sun.)

Appointments made to various governing bodies

The commissioners went to written ballots to fill contested positions on governing boards and committees with members chosen by the county:
Johnston Community College Board of Trustees – Lynn H. Ragsdale re-elected.
Johnston County Jury Commission – Thomas L. Turnage re-elected.
Johnston-Harnett-Lee Community Action board – Alexia Walker newly elected.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – Jackie H. Lee, Douglas Sorrell, James L. Spencer re-elected; Vonda Martin Jenkins newly elected.
Public Library Board of Trustees – Donna Daughtry and Martha Mills re-elected.
Local Emergency Planning Committee – Steve Strickland re-elected while Todd Ramsey, Beth Stewart, and Marie J. Rogers were reappointed without opposition.

The Board of Equalization and Review, charged with hearing appeals of recent property-tax revaluations, gained two new members Monday with the appointment of Dr. Shiquita P. Blue and Jeffery Lee Franks. That board is made up of representatives from each of the seven districts that elect county commissioners.
 

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Presenting winners of Chamber's Legacy Awards

They were honored at last Thursday evening's annual awards dinner of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce. Here are highlights of what the Chamber posted on its Facebook page about this year's recipients:

Small Businessperson of the Year Award
Dr. Kathleen Coates owns and operates Coates Hearing Clinic with locations in Smithfield and Goldsboro... (She is) renowned for her patient-centered care and use of advanced audiological technology.... Through the Coates Community Giving Pledge, she donates 5% of monthly profits to local non-profits and leads impactful outreach through educational seminars and community events. (NOTE: This award is named in memory of Smithfield pharmacist Jimmy Creech.)

2024 Citizen of the Year
 Lynn Stanley, interim executive director of My Kid’s Club, has guided the organization through transformative change, including its recent merger with the Boys & Girls Club.... With over 30 years of service at Johnston County Department of Social Services, she continues... active volunteerism with... Hope Abounds, Activate Selma, and Meals on Wheels. (She is) a graduate of Leadership Johnston and an ambassador for the Triangle East Chamber. 

Emerging Leader Award
Nicole Youngblood is an Extension Agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension Johnston County Center.... She leads initiatives like the JoCo Grows Grant, local agri-tourism events, and youth mentorship programs. (She is) vice president of the CALS Alumni & Friends Society (of N.C. State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) and a participant in the N.C. Agricultural Leadership Program.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Judge Addie Rawls... made history as the first African-American female District Court Judge in North Carolina’s 11th Judicial District. For more than 30 years, she has been a steadfast advocate for justice and community empowerment. Outside the courtroom, she has championed youth and family programs, including the Youth Back-to-School Explosion, and served on vital boards such as the Johnston County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.
 

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 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Fire Department to participate in "Smoke Alarm Saturday"

The Smithfield Fire Department will join departments across North Carolina for Smoke Alarm Saturday this weekend. Smithfield firefighters and volunteers will go door-to-door in targeted neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, test existing alarms, and provide fire-safety education. This year the department will be canvassing the following areas: Cherry-Dail streets; Evergreen-Barbour Road; and Bridge-Caswell-Hancock. Beyond that, anyone in Smithfield who would like the Fire Department to install a free smoke alarm this Saturday should contact the department ahead of time by calling 919-934-2468.

Board of Education's monthly meeting scheduled Tuesday

Johnston's school board will convene its meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the schools' headquarters on US 70 Business east of Smithfield. The meeting usually begins with a closed session followed by the open business session around 5 p.m.
The monthly meetings are live-streamed on the schools' YouTube channel>
VIEW the agenda for next Tuesday's meeting once it's posted>
 

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May rainfall above normal; total for year still lags

Cornell Cox reports 4.63 inches of rainfall was recorded during May by his Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield, bringing our total for 2025 to 16.74 inches. Average rainfall for May here is 4.23 inches, according to U.S. Climate Data. The year-to-date total for 2025 is two inches below Smithfield's normal of 18.78 inches.
 

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Town has new phone number for reporting power outages

The Town of Smithfiield has changed its phone number for reporting after-hours utility outages to 919-934-2661. The previous number, 919-934-2117, will no longer be used for after-hours concerns about the town's electricity, water, and sewer services. For questions during regular business hours, contact the Public Utilities Department at 919-934-2798.
 

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 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Balloon releases = environmental consequences

I sense many among us would beg for mercy in bringing up this matter in the wake of last week's balloon release in memory of Smithfield Town Councilman Marlon Lee. After all, it was a community outpouring of sadness over the loss of that young man who had emerged as a rare combination of civic leader and servant.

First came objections in a couple of e-mails from readers of the Weekly Sun. And then, not one but two of Johnston's county commissioners offered negative comments on the practice at the end of Monday evening's board meeting.

Frank Grubbs, a Weekly Sun subscriber, summed it up this way:
"I had a great deal of respect for Councilman Lee and was saddened to hear of his sudden, unexpected death. I was also saddened when I saw the picture of the balloon release in a misguided show of memories. Releasing balloons, no matter the occasion, is littering just as bad or worse than throwing trash from a car window speeding down the highway. Let’s find ways to honor and remember without dishonoring nature and the environment. Plant a tree, build a garden, anything other than putting litter in the air not even knowing where it will come down."

County Commissioner Ted Godwin brought up the issue Monday without mentioning the Smithfield celebration: "I've noticed on TV, especially in Wake County and larger areas where, when a person passes away, there's ceremony to release balloons in the air, and I'm sensitive to what they're trying to do to honor that person. But 100% of those balloons wind up being trash somewhere – on our roadsides, in private land and woods – and they don't biodegrade; they're there for centuries...."

"Not only is it trash but it presents a hazard to wildlife and livestock," added Commissioner Bill Stovall. "They can swallow these balloons, which unfortunately happens quite frequently."

Concluded Commissioner Godwin: "I would just hope that people can evolve to some other way to show their love and respect."
 

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