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Home My WebLink About062426 Special MeetingHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Special Meeting Minutes June 24, 2026 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and consider adoption of the Harnett County Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 Budget. Members present: Duncan E. Jaggers, Chairman Matthew B. Nicol, Vice Chairman Barbara McKoy, Commissioner William Morris, Commissioner W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner Staff present: Brent Trout, County Manager Dwight Snow, County Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Melissa Capps, Clerk Chairman Jaggers called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner Matthews led the Pledge of Allegiance and provided the invocation. Lisa McFadden, Assistant County Manager, presented the following information regarding FY 2026- 2027 Recommended Budget (Attachment 1): Senate Bill 889: Reappraisal Moratorium o Requires continued use of 2022 Schedule of Value o Affects nine counties, including Harnett County o Signed by the Governor last Friday o Delays implementation of the 2026 Schedule of Values until 2027 o Limits ability to reflect true market growth SB 474: Harnett Exemption c Would exempt Harnett County from the SB 889 moratorium o Senate did not concur yesterday o Unclear if it will pass before June 30, 2026 o State Representatives are still hopeful it will pass 2022 Schedule of Values o Based on estimated values o More accurate values will not be available until after July 1 o Approximately $350,000 in additional cost o One penny generates approximately $1,575,528 Hamett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes June 24, 2026 Pagel of 3 Fiw rK¢leinf¢ _ RPnnPCYfvi TAY RA}0 Tn"PA.0 % • District4 V FY 2026 Rate FY 2027 Req Rate FY 26 Rate Produces FY 27 Rate Produces Increase Anderson0.15 Creek $2,202,090 $2,830,073 $627,983 Benhaven 0.12 0.13 $1,915,578 $2,041,573 $125,996 Duke 0.105 0.12 $544,841 5606,989 $62,148 Dunn 0.11 0.115 $2,490,343 $2,582,576 $92,233 West Area 0.13 0.15 $97,744 $109,827 $12,093 Priorities Reflected in Recommended Budget o Updated Recommended Budget • $6,000,000 Harnett County Schools expansion requests • $6,000,000 additional allocation for future schools • $100,000 non-profit funding • $500,000 transfer for Weapons Detection Systems • 13 new General Fund positions • 6 new Harnett Regional Water positions • Targeted reductions in community college services, public safety technology, environmental protection services, and capital equipment • Reduction in Fund Balance use 2022 Schedule of Values - Tax Rate 750 o Total Budget: $219,787,410 o Total Fund Balance Appropriated: $3,833,319 o Key Elements: • Recommended Tax Rate: 750 • Restores prior year's use of fund balance • Increases and sustains school funding for two future high schools, teacher supplements, and school staffladministrator stipends • Funds Board's priorities and county operational needs • 750 is necessary to sustain funding commitments under 2022 values Board Discussion & Budget Approval o Budget is prepared based on 2022 values o Do we keep 75¢ as the approved tax rate? o Are there any expense items you would like cut from the budget? o Budget and tax rate must be approved by June 30.2026 Decision Options o Approve the budget today with the recommended 75¢ tax rate? o Schedule a June 29 or June 30 special meeting to allow additional time for potential SB 474 action before adopting the budget? The Board discussed the possible timeline for SB 474. Chairman Jaggers asked if we pass under the old values, and we go to the levy rate we need to go with on old values, and 474 passes, would that 75¢ stand. Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney stated, typically once the budget ordinance is adopted, the tax levy rate cannot be changed by law. However, 159-15 does say if after July 1, that if we receive Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes June 24, 2026 Page 2 of 3 revenues that are substantially more or less than the amount anticipated, the Board can before January l' amend the budget ordinance to increase the tax levy rate or decrease the tax levy rate. Additional discussion included waiting until Tuesday, June 30' so that maybe a decision will be made by the legislature and costs associated with reverting back to the 2022 appraisal. Consensus of the Board was to hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 30 at 8:00 am. Vice Chairman Nicol stated with the Medicaid expansion coming down, I would like to request the Board consider adding a family and children Medicaid worker. Chairman Jaggers requested staff bring that change to the Special Meeting on Tuesday June 30'". Vice Chairman Nicol made a motion to adjourn at 9:24 am. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Matthews and carried unanimously 6!Lp Melissa—Capps,`� Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes Jane 24, 2026 Page 3 of 3 Al IAc11%11.NJ I FY 2026-2027 RECOMMENDED BUDGET Budget Work Session June 24, 2026 Senate Bill 889: Reappraisal Moratorium Senate Bill 889 • Requires continued use of 2022 Schedule of Value •Affects nine counties, including Harnett County • Signed by the Governor last Friday • Delays implementation of the 2026 Schedule of Values until 2027 • Limits ability to reflect true market growth SB 474: Harnett Exemption Senate Bill 474 • Would exempt Harnett County from the SB 889 moratorium • Senate did not concur yesterday • Unclear if it will pass before June 30, 2026 •State Representatives are still hopeful it will pass Schedule of Values Overview 2022 Schedule of Values • Based on estimated values • More accurate values will not be available until after July 1 •Approximately $350,000 in additional cost •One penny generates approximately $1,575,528 4 Fire Districts - Requested Tax Rate Increases Anderson Creek 0.11 0.15 $2,202,090 $2,830,073 $627,983 Benhaven 0.12 0.13 $1,915,578 $2,041,573 $125,996 Duke 0.105 0.12 $544,841 $606,989 $62,148 Dunn 0.11 0.115 $2,490,343 $2,582,576 $92,233 West Area 0.13 0.15 $97,744 $109,827 $12,083 5 Priorities Reflected in Recommended Budget Updated Recommended Budget • $6,000,000 Harnett County Schools expansion requests • $6,000,000 additional allocation for future schools • $100,000 non-profit funding • $500,000 transfer for Weapons Detection Systems • 13 new General Fund positions • 6 new Harnett Regional Water positions • Targeted reductions in community college services, public safety technology, environmental protection services, and capital equipment • Reduction in Fund Balance use e 2022 Schedule of Values - Tax Rate M Total Budget: $219,787,410 Total Fund Balance Appropriated: $3,833,319 Key Elements: • Recommended Tax Rate: 754 • Restores prior year's use of fund balance • Increases and sustains school funding for two future high schools, teacher supplements, and school staff/administrator stipends • Funds Board's priorities and county operational needs • 754 is necessary to sustain funding commitments under 2022 values Board Discussion & Budget Approval Budget is prepared based on 2022 values • Do we keep 751 as the approved tax rate? • Are there any expense items you would like cut from the budget? Budget and tax rate must be approved by June 30, 2026 Decision Options • Approve the budget today with the recommended 754 tax rate? Schedule a June 29 or June 30 special meeting to allow additional time for potential SB 474 action before adopting the budget? RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20Z6'Z02%