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Pender County adopts first organization‑wide strategic plan to 2030

Pender County Board of Commissioners · February 17, 2026

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Summary

The Board adopted a five-goal strategic plan to guide county priorities through 2030, prioritizing schools, public safety, infrastructure, communications and staff retention; staff said most actions are low or no cost and any high‑cost items will return to the board during budget deliberations.

Pender County commissioners voted Feb. 17 to adopt the county’s first organization‑wide strategic plan, a framework intended to guide decisions and budgets through 2030.

Deputy manager Sarah Fulton told the board the planning process began in January 2025 and included a steering committee, more than 50 staff meetings, public surveys (about 600 responses), and town halls attended by roughly 125 individuals. The steering committee grouped feedback into themes and narrowed priorities to five goals: supporting schools and education; enhancing public safety; strategic growth and infrastructure planning; improving public communications; and internal development and staff retention.

Fulton said 65 actions are included: 30 require no direct cost (procedural or coordination tasks), nine are strategic items that would have occurred anyway, 13 have minimal cost implications and 10 would have a medium recurring cost (mainly workforce development initiatives and new positions). Three actions were flagged as high budget impacts (adding EMS units, a full water and sewer master plan, or a UDO rewrite if consultants are used). Fulton emphasized that adopting the plan does not appropriate funds and that any action with a budgetary impact must return to the board for approval in the annual budget process.

Commissioners commended staff for public engagement and the treatment of budget constraints; the board approved the plan by voice vote. Fulton said staff will begin implementing action items immediately, provide quarterly updates and adjust timelines as necessary.

Ending: The plan provides a roadmap and a public reporting schedule; staff said they will return to the board for any specific funding requests arising from the strategic priorities.