Harnett County Schools requests $48.3M as rapid growth, overcrowding and staffing costs surge

Rapid growth strains Harnett County Schools’ funding, requiring over $180 million for current and future needs because of overcrowding, rising teacher pay, and aging facilities.

On May 4, the Harnett County School Board met with county commissioners to discuss the 2026-27 budget request, which highlights a gap because of rapid growth, staffing, and facilities.

Harnett County Schools requested a $48.3 million county appropriation, an increase from $39.9 million, to sustain and grow operations. That includes $8.28 million in additional expenses tied to charter school payments, staffing, and benefits.

The district must cover $1.15 million in charter school costs from enrollment growth and over $4 million to boost teacher supplements.

Staff pay raises show the strain:

$4 million for teacher increases

$545,779 for administrators

$1.2 million for classified staff

Additional funds for benefits, master’s pay, and director supplements

These increases show that maintaining a stable workforce has become more expensive, especially as nearby districts compete for the same employees.

The most urgent pressure is the facilities. The district requested $137.6 million in capital outlay, with $135.4 million for new and renovated schools in the first tier of projects. This includes major needs:

New elementary and middle schools

A proposed 2,000-seat high school

Ongoing renovations across multiple campuses

These needs are due to enrollment growth in one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing counties. The district notated that increasing student population and facility strain pushed for the request increase.

Basic maintenance shows underfunding pressure. The district needs over $1.27 million annually for routine repairs like HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and electrical work, separate from major construction projects.

The district signals over $180 million in immediate funding needs due to:

Rapid population growth

School overcrowding

Rising labor costs

Aging facilities and infrastructure

Maintaining operations and preventing system strain drove the funding request.

Important Upcoming Dates

May 18: Board Work Session, 9:00 A.M., Boardroom, Central Service (Public Comment Session)

May 19: Graduation: STAR/Virtual Academy 7:15 p.m. – Triton High

May 21: Graduation: Western Harnett High School 9:30 a.m. – Campbell University

May 21: Graduation: Overhills High School 2:30 p.m. – Campbell University

May 22: Graduation: Triton High School 9:30 a.m. – Campbell University

May 22: Graduation: Harnett Central High School 2:30 p.m. – Campbell University

May 22: Last Day of School

May 25: Holiday

May 26-27: Mandatory Work Day

May 28-29: Optional Teacher Workdays

June 1: Regular Meeting, 6:00 P.M., Boardroom, Central Service

June 15: Board Work Session, 9:00 A.M., Boardroom, Central Service

June 30: (Tuesday) Regular Meeting, 9:00 A.M., Boardroom, Central Service

May 7, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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