Harnett County budget advances as library funding and social services staffing face scrutiny

On June 1, Harnett County Commissioners approved the 2026-27 proposed budget amendments ahead of a June 15 public hearing, with debate centering on a $4.7 million library allocation, staffing shortages in Social Services, rising federal cost shifts, and increasing juvenile crime prevention needs.

Financing the library, a top ten county expense at $4,693,574, was a point of contention in the proposed budget discussion.

Under North Carolina General Statute 125, counties are not required to fund libraries. Read the full law here.

Underscoring a difference in priorities, Vice-Chair Matt Nicol said Social Services had requested funding for 13 positions and only received three.

County Manager Brent Trout said the county met their top two requests and they would meet with them to help strategize how to work with fewer people.

Commissioner Barbara McKoy asked if federal cuts were responsible.

Trout said they had to pay 20% more from the county budget for funding social services because of federal law changes.

According to Indeed, a Harnett County social worker is paid about $64k per year. For 13 social workers, the cost per year would be about $832,000, not including insurance or benefits.

During public comments, after Larry Mitchell noted a flag needed to be added to the government and library building, and McKoy shared insight.

“I’m the only one here that’s name is on there [sign on the building]. That’s because…all the commissioners’ names that are on the building lost their seats because we voted to build this building. It was much needed…because that building that was over there was too small to have meetings. People said we were throwing away money to build a Taj Mahal. I’m glad I’m still here to make that statement because those were good commissioners,” McKoy said.

Budget considerations included whether Senate Bill 889, the move to force schools to provide mental health professionals, would pass. At the time of the budget review, commissioners believed it would pass this week. At the time of publishing this article on Friday, June 5, the bill had not passed.

Mental health professionals would cost the county about $350,000 more.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 15 at 6 p.m. for the public to share input on the proposed budget.

Amendments to the appropriation budget included increases for the Fund Balance at $90,175 and to the health department’s expansion budget at $101,647.

For expenses, it increased the health department’s expansion budget at $101,647, the communications’ expansion budget with $18,328, and the governing body budget for ADA services at $5,600.

For the Special Revenue Fund, the 911 system notified the county it would not provide appropriate funding, so it added $3,074.

The General Fund budget stands at $215,349,869.

Harnett Regional Water’s budget is $53,842,000.

Solid Waste is $9,911,210.

The county added a passport acceptance fee of $35 and a photo fee at $15.

For public safety, the sheriff’s department receives the largest portion of the budget at $33,427,405.

Communications receive $3,181,507.

Animal services receive $1,593,276.

Emergency services is funded with $15,868,532.

The rescue districts are appropriated $6,711,494.

The top 10 expenses

Education $41,995,293

Sheriff $33,427,405

Emergency Services $13,797,232

Education Debt Service $12,225,299

Health Department $9,000,661

Rescue $$6,711,494

HCS and Government contingency $6,352,686

General Government Debt Service $4,774,701

Library Services $4,693,574

Learn more about the proposed budget by reading Harnett County budget teeters on property tax bill.

JCPC

The board approved the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Chair Kimberly Whitted’s request for permission to ask the state for a funding increase. She said they had not had an increase in 10 years. Population growth has increased the demand for services.

Data shows Harnett County has only 28% rate of low-risk juveniles compared to the statewide average of 44%.

Of the juveniles in the county, 53% are moderate-risk juveniles.

This means Harnett County juveniles are at a higher risk than the state average because they may have more contact with risk factors leading to crime.

Harnett has lower low-risk juveniles (28% vs. 44% statewide) and higher moderate- and high-risk juveniles (53% vs 41% moderate, 19% vs 15% high).

This suggests juveniles in Harnett County are at higher risk than the state average, which suggests more exposure to risk factors associated with juvenile crime.

Whitted recommended $5,000 for administrative costs, $138,485 for the Teen Court programs, $68,250 for the sheriff’s PAL program, and $108,310 for the Dunn PAL School Kids in Power and Career Readiness.

Commissioner Barbara McKoy said the program provided for at-risk children was a plus for all citizens.

Commissioners approved fireworks applications for Pyro Shows East Coast for Anderson Creek Club, the Town of Erwin, and Lillington.

Commissioners recognized Harnett County Veteran Hero Jon R. Walker.

The next meeting is June 9 at 9 a.m.

June 5, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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