Wayne County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Wayne County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Project Pioneer Economic Incentives
The county approved incentive grants for Scout Limited and Goshen Engineering to encourage local business expansions, capital investments, and job creation in Goldsboro and Mount Olive.
Regionalization Sewer Proposal
Commissioners discussed pursuing state legislation to consolidate wastewater systems countywide to improve efficiency, reduce operational hurdles, and foster economic growth.
UNC Health Wayne Integration Agreement
Wayne County commissioners approved a major agreement to fully integrate UNC Health Wayne into the statewide UNC Health system. The deal brings a 15-year, $675 million financial commitment to improve local healthcare, upgrade facilities, expand specialty care, and establish a level three trauma center.
Rollingwood Estates CDBG Project Updates
Residents from Rollingwood Estates raised concerns regarding drainage improvements in their community block grant project. Commissioners acknowledged the issue and pointed to ongoing discussions with project staff.
QT Corporation Industrial Expansion at ParkEast
Wayne County and the Development Alliance partnered to construct a new 50,000 square foot industrial shell building to help recruit businesses to the area.
Brogden Primary School Construction & State Grant
The county and school board updated their funding agreement to adjust the scope of work between Rosewood Middle and Elementary schools while utilizing state grant funds.
Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Amendment
The board enacted new rules requiring all new home construction in FEMA X zones (shaded and unshaded) to be elevated at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade, enhancing flood resilience outside traditional floodplains.
Juvenile Detention Housing Costs
The county faces significant budget pressures due to rising costs for housing juveniles in approved state detention facilities following state age-adjustment mandates. Expenses are running around $50,000 to $79,000 per month.
Water Conservation
Wayne County is asking folks to voluntarily cut back on water use right now. Doing a little bit today helps us dodge mandatory limits later on.
County-Wide Alcohol Sales Referendum
Wayne County voters will decide in November whether to permit alcohol sales outside municipal limits. Proponents point out that neighboring counties already allow it, which would help local ABC revenues.
Property Tax Collections and Tax Administrator Appointment
The county launched an online property tax simulator on its website to help residents understand property tax calculations and see how tax dollars are distributed across services.
Wayne Community College Hangar Lease at Executive Jetport
The county awarded engineering and planning services for the airport to Ardurra to support ongoing grants and facility improvements.
Opioid Settlement Fund Allocation
Wayne County is using national opioid settlement funds to launch a 24/7 paramedic-led response team to tackle the rising tide of drug overdoses and connect struggling residents with treatment.
Poplar Branch Subdivision Preliminary Plat
The board reviewed and approved multiple subdivision plats, including major developments like Windsor Square and Holland Farm, adding dozens of new residential lots across the county.
I-42 Naming in Honor of Jack Best
The county approved a resolution asking the state to name a stretch of I-42 after late former commissioner and transportation advocate Jack Best.
Prolec-GE Waukesha Expansion Recognition
Local manufacturer Prolec-GE Waukesha was honored for winning North Carolina's Deal of the Year Midsize Market Project, representing a $140 million investment and 330 new jobs.
Emergency Services Operations and Fleet Expansion
The county manager and several commissioners thanked first responders and facilities staff for their work through Winter Storm Gianna, and urged drivers to stay cautious.
Jeffreys Building Parking Lot Fence Removal
Commissioners debated the fate of a security fence at the Jeffreys building parking lot, ultimately voting to remove and repurpose it.
Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO) Formation
The county approved joining a new Rural Transportation Planning Organization for Duplin, Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties with NCDOT. Existing county planning staff will handle administrative duties in-house without needing extra hires.
FY 2026-2027 General Liability Insurance Renewal
The county evaluated its commercial property and casualty insurance renewals between the NCACC pool and Travelers Insurance. Following recommendations from RiskVersity, the board chose Travelers Option 2, providing $7 million in coverage while saving the county about $90,000.
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 County Budget
The county manager presented the $291.2 million proposed budget, which maintains the current property tax rate of 62.59 cents while addressing inflation, rising healthcare costs, and employee compensation.
Zoning Map Amendment Z-26-01 (Brogden Township)
A public hearing was held on rezoning 18.61 acres from residential/shopping to Light Industry to accommodate an existing fabrication shop and future compatible uses.
State Mandated County Costs
A comprehensive report highlighted that state and federal mandates consume nearly all county tax revenues, leaving very little discretionary spending power for local leaders.
FY 2026-2027 County Recommended Budget
County Manager Chip Crumpler unveiled a $291.2 million recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year that maintains the current property tax rate of $0.6259. The spending plan uses $5.5 million in fund balance reserves, funds 11 new positions mostly in EMS, and provides employee salary adjustments.
Property Tax Relief and Revenue Protection
The county commissioners strongly opposed state proposals to cap or limit property taxes, arguing that such caps would force service cuts unless the state takes over the expensive public health, safety, and welfare mandates it forces counties to carry.
Courthouse and DHHS Security Staffing
Staff proposed replacing private security contractors at county facilities with four full-time Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputies to improve safety and response times.