Lenoir County commissioners approve school permit, juvenile prevention plan and budget amendments
Lenoir County commissioners approved several items Monday, including a special use permit for a new school, a juvenile crime prevention spending plan, budget amendments, tax collection reports, equipment repairs and surplus vehicle sales.
The actions came during the May 18 Board of Commissioners meeting, where County Manager Michael James also presented the proposed 2026-27 county budget. The budget, which is expected to be posted on the county website Tuesday, recommends keeping the county’s current tax rate at 67.5 cents per $100 of valuation while increasing overall spending by 3.6%.
Commissioners approved a special use permit allowing Margo Harper to operate a school at 2515 Gray Branch Church Road. The property is zoned agricultural/rural, and the school will operate in an existing building associated with a church but leased as a separate use.
Harper told commissioners the school will focus on agriculture education, FFA-style experiences and work-based learning for students in grades 3 through 12. High school students would attend class three days a week, including field trips, and spend two days in internships or entrepreneurship projects.
Harper said the school is expected to serve 12 to 24 students and will not require building changes. She said the building already includes classroom space and has passed fire and health inspections.
The board also approved the FY 2026-27 Juvenile Crime Prevention Council spending plan. Jennifer Clark said the plan totals $328,895 in requested funding for programs including Lenoir Structured Day, Teen Court, restitution, prevention and treatment services, transition/reentry through Methodist Home for Children and JCPC administration.
Commissioner June Cummings said the programs are monitored annually and do not include local dollars. Cummings and Commissioner Cleveland Lovick serve on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.
The board approved budget amendments totaling $1,350,337 to align revenues and expenditures across funds, move grant funds into stand-alone funds and correct prior-year journal entries. Clark said the amendments followed work by GWI Tax & Accounting, which the county hired to provide financial expertise for grants, record-keeping and compliance with grant and statutory requirements.
The agenda packet said the adjustments involved the General Fund, Revaluation Fund, Capital Project Fund and N.C. Department of Commerce Grant Fund. The changes included correcting a duplicated $955,000 General Fund contribution to the Revaluation Fund and moving a $400,000 Crown Building Reuse Grant to the correct fund.
On the consent agenda, commissioners approved the April tax collection report, April tax releases and refunds, surplus property sales, $3,590 in additional child health funding, a $5,715 Health Department HVAC repair and a $5,895 repair to two padded cells at the W.E. “Billy” Smith Detention Center.
The April tax collection report showed a fiscal year-to-date real and personal property tax levy of $40,237,016, with $38,781,972 collected, or 96.38%. Vehicle property tax collections were down 8% from the prior year, a decrease the report attributed to the lower tax rate even though vehicle values were 8% higher.
The Health Department HVAC repair is for an evaporator coil serving the registration, classroom and lobby areas. The padded cell repair is for damage in two processing-area cells used for inmates with behavioral problems or self-destructive tendencies.
Commissioners also declared multiple county vehicles surplus and authorized an electronic auction through GovDeals beginning June 17. The vehicles include Dodge Chargers, Ford Explorers, a Chevy Tahoe, a Chevy Traverse, a Ford F-250 and other county-owned vehicles no longer in use.
During public information, commissioners recognized employees for years of service, including Shanice Williams of Public Health and Wayland Scott Davis of EMS for five years, and Erin Stanley of DSS for 15 years.
The board also honored William H. “Bill” Rowland, 98, for his military service, scientific work, historical preservation and civic contributions. The proclamation noted Rowland’s role in documenting the CSS Neuse, his work with DuPont’s Dacron Research and Development Laboratory and his volunteer service with Lenoir County Emergency Services as a licensed ham radio operator.
The board proclaimed May 17-23 as Emergency Medical Services Week. Norman Bryson told commissioners Lenoir County EMS responded to 13,771 calls last year, 845 more than in 2024, a 6.5% increase. He said EMS personnel helped bring back eight cardiac arrest patients who later left the hospital without deficiencies, up from one in each of the prior two years.
Commissioners also recognized National Treatment Court Month. Judge Beth Heath gave an update on the county’s Community Recovery Division, Recovery Together ENC Center, treatment work through the health department, recovery courts and reentry services.
Heath said Lenoir County abuse, neglect and dependency petitions increased from 46 in 2024 to 93 in 2025. She said the Recovery Together ENC Center had about 4,000 contacts through the end of March since opening in June 2025. She also said the programs use several funding sources, including opioid settlement funds, grants, ABC funds and Trillium support.
During public comments, Quarla Blackwell criticized the county over opioid settlement spending, jail conditions, employee pay and the need for more resources in neighborhoods. Aaron Reeves of Carolina Medical Transport announced an Aug. 15 cook-off and book bag giveaway at 108 W. King St. in Kinston, with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, Lenoir County EMS, Kinston Police Department, Kinston Fire Department and Carolina Medical Transport expected to participate.
Commissioners did not vote on the proposed county budget Monday. Budget work sessions are expected before commissioners adopt a final spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
