Harnett County commissioners lay out budget schedule, say state law prevents impact fees and flag high school construction costs

Harnett County commissioners used a public Q&A to explain the county budget timeline, the limits on local tools for financing growth, and what residents can expect as the board considers next year's levy.

Vice Chair Matt Nichols and Chair Eddie Jaggers walked through the near-term schedule: the county manager will present a recommended budget on May 4, the board will hold a work session on May 12 and a public hearing on the recommended budget on May 18, and the board intends to adopt the budget and set tax rates on June 21 (the board also listed May 15 as the school budget submission deadline and May 26 as a possible additional work session). "We will be adopting the tax rates" on June 21, Nichols said while telling residents that the final levy depends on department requests and the manager's recommendation.

On the question of requiring developers to pay for infrastructure, commissioners said state law currently prevents counties from imposing impact fees. "By law, general statute, we cannot put impact fees on anything," Chair Jaggers said, adding that the board has pursued other local tools (an overlay) but that a recent House bill removed that power three days before a planned vote. Commissioners urged residents to contact their state representatives and senators if they want counties to be authorized to charge impact fees.

The panel discussed the cost pressures driving the budget. Speakers quoted recent school construction figures while explaining capital needs: a middle school project was cited at $85,000,000 and Highland High School was described as "well over $120,000,000." Commissioners also expressed interest in a career and technical education (CTE) high school to increase workforce readiness, and they described the county's capital improvement plan and prior land purchases for schools.

Officials warned about the trade-offs of prior tax-rate reductions: one past move to lower the levy led to the county losing low-wealth funding from the state and absorbing roughly $5,700,000 in general-fund costs, a dynamic the board will consider when weighing rate cuts now.

On zoning and subdivision controls, the commissioners said conditional zoning could be used to require sidewalks, curb and gutter, lighting and green space; a public hearing on proposed conditional zoning was scheduled for next week. Economic development officers were credited for recruiting industry (director Steven Barrington was named) and for preparing sites such as Edgerton Industrial Park.

The board concluded by asking residents to engage in public budget meetings, use the county's newsletter and other channels for updates (harnett.org/publicinfo), and to contact commissioners with suggestions or questions. "We are the ones who are trying to carry that out," Nichols said, inviting public input before the board finalizes levy decisions.