Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Craven County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
40 issues
Trillium Health Resources Annual Report
Trillium manages behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disability, and substance use services for Craven County residents — over 4,000 county members were served in the last fiscal year. The report covers service spending, the new Children and Families Specialty Plan, and how to access services.
Craven County Schools FY27 Budget Request
The Craven County Board of Education is asking county commissioners to distribute NC lottery funds for Tucker Creek Middle School. This affects school capital funding for the Tucker Creek community.
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport Expansion Grants
County Manager Jack Veit announced the county won a SCASIG federal grant aimed at daily commercial flights to Dulles Airport, adding to existing Breeze and American service.
Renaming the Havelock Bypass as Major General Hugh R. Overholt Highway
The board unanimously backed asking NCDOT to rename the Havelock Bypass after Major General Hugh R. Overholt, credited with winning federal and state support for U.S. 70 corridor projects.
NCDOI Grant Match for Fire Departments
Six Craven County volunteer fire departments got state NCDOI grants and the county's $418,558 match, buying turnout gear, air packs, radios, extrication tools and pagers. Commissioners noted this keeps fire tax increases down.
Abandoned property concerns in James City
An 82-year-old James City resident, speaking through her niece, asked for help with a neighboring abandoned house that's collapsing onto her property, drawing rodents and snakes. Commissioners agreed to follow up.
Craven County Nature Park Development
Resident Anne Corby donated $10,000 for phase one of the bike trails, with construction starting this month at the new county nature park.
Foster Care and Adoption Placement Needs
A local behavioral health provider told commissioners children are sleeping in DSS offices and foster homes are scarce; she asked the county to opt into the special children's adoption incentive fund and support a family reunification program.
Donation for Bike Trails
Recreation & Parks received a donation to help build bike trails, and a budget amendment would accept and allocate the gift.
NC Lottery Funds Distribution for Tucker Creek Middle School
The school board got $5.7 million in lottery funds released for the Tucker Creek Middle School addition, which is nearly dried-in and on track for next summer.
Conveyance of Five County-Owned Parcels in New Bern
Five county-owned parcels in New Bern — on I Street, Moore Avenue, McKinley Avenue, and Second Avenue — are ready to be conveyed to buyers after upset bid periods expired with no further bids.
Mayor Retirement
Trent Woods’ mayor is retiring after 19 years, so the town is about to get new leadership. Depending on local rules, that could mean a special election or an appointment to fill the seat. It’s a small-town change, but it affects who runs one of Craven County’s municipalities.
Craven Community College Health Sciences Expansion
College leaders requested a 5.29% funding increase for FY27 and highlighted major capital projects like the Corporate Training Center and Public Safety Training Center.
Medicaid Expansion Administrative Mandates and Staffing
New federal and state rules require Craven County Social Services to handle much tighter work requirements, frequent eligibility reviews, and verification checks. To prevent penalties and backpay, the board approved 13 new positions and computer equipment costing $622,880, which is fully covered by state and federal funding.
Election Voting
Early voting kicks off Thursday morning in Craven County, giving you a chance to cast your ballot early and dodge those annoying election day lines. Plan ahead and map out when you're going to vote!
Election
Early voting is starting soon in Craven County, meaning it's time to check your local polling schedule and get your ballot cast. Make sure you know where and when to vote before heading out.
Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter and TNR Funding
Residents advocated for using recent animal shelter donations to establish a low-cost spay and neuter program for owned animals and dedicated trap-neuter-return funding for community cats. Commissioners noted the topic will be discussed at an upcoming work session.
FY26 CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Grant
The county authorized $32,200 for court-ordered trash removal and demolition of dilapidated mobile homes at Sandy Ridge Mobile Home Park to protect community health and safety.
NCDOT Traffic Reconfigurations and James City Congestion
Craven County is spending $400,256 to relocate over seven miles of fiber-optic cables along Highway 70 due to the I-42 expansion. NCDOT will reimburse most of the cost, leaving the county to cover a portion that doubles network capacity.
COSSUP Grant Rollover for Substance Abuse Services
The county is exploring a partnership with Southeastern Integrated Care to expand local mental health treatment, residential recovery housing, and jail diversion bed capacity.
ENC Tech Bridge Grant Rollover
The county approved a $225,000 grant rollover to keep the ENC Tech Bridge program running, supporting regional defense partnerships, university projects, and K-12 STEM education.
Sheriff's Office Forensic Van Purchase
The Sheriff's Office received a generous $20,000 donation from a private citizen to help buy a new forensic van for the crime lab. Existing vehicles were too small to carry all necessary equipment, and using donation money saves taxpayers cash.
CARTS Route Reductions and OnDemand+ Pilot Program
CARTS is proposing to restructure its fixed bus routes from three to two, introduce an OnDemand+ same-day microtransit pilot program, and launch the Greenville Express medical and life-necessity transit service. These changes aim to improve efficiency, reduce headways, and expand regional mobility.
GREAT Grant Broadband Expansion Match
The county approved a $250,000 ARPA fund match to Brightspeed to complete broadband expansion across unserved rural areas, reaching over 1,800 locations.
2026 Limited Obligation Bonds Issuance
Craven County is issuing up to $25 million in limited obligation bonds to fund capital projects like facility upgrades in Havelock and New Bern, chiller replacements at the judicial center, and library renovations.
School HVAC Upgrades and Capital Funding
The board acknowledged a $251 million school facility needs survey and approved $369,120 in lottery funds to replace broken air conditioning units at three schools.
Government Center East Project & Construction Contract
Craven County purchased an existing building at 1208 East Main Street in Havelock to serve as Government Center East, saving millions over new construction. It will house state and county services, a DMV, and an early voting site.
Water System Assessment Studies and AMI Meter Project Rollovers
The county approved funding to replace a failed 1992 water well pump on Dover Road to maintain reliable water service in Northwest Craven County.
Landfill Battery Safety and Recycling
Commissioners discussed worsening illegal roadside dumping across the county and coordinated with the Sheriff's Office to utilize inmate labor for litter cleanup. Additionally, the regional landfill approved a major cell construction project.
Tax Foreclosure Property Dispositions
The county attorney presented three initial purchase offers for tax-foreclosed properties and one finalized conveyance after an upset bid period. These properties are co-owned with the City of New Bern.
Proposed $25 Million Limited Obligation Bonds
The county is moving forward with up to $25 million in limited obligation bonds to fund multiple capital projects, including government facilities in Havelock and New Bern, parking improvements, a maintenance facility, a judicial center chiller, a public defender's office, Cove City Library, and DSS updates.
Animal Shelter Estate Donation and Future Use
The animal shelter received a massive $655,147 estate donation from Shirley Callahan, which the board transferred into a capital reserve fund. Commissioners also discussed potential future uses, including funding for a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program.
On-Call Compensation Policies for County Staff
The county adopted a new IT on-call policy and updated maintenance on-call pay rates to match water department standards, providing structured after-hours compensation.
Consolidation of County Maintenance Facility on Martin Drive
Craven County is purchasing and consolidating its maintenance department into 3491 and 3493 Martin Drive, funded through a $679,955 budget amendment and future borrowing. This move frees up the old New Street offices for future court services.
Industrial Park Expansion and Grant Funding
The county is purchasing 76 acres on Clarks Road from Weyerhaeuser for $475,000 to expand the industrial park and attract new economic development projects.
Jail Overcrowding and Inmate Medical Costs
The county jail is currently operating about 100 inmates over capacity, driving up required medical spending and prompting a $200,000 budget amendment. Commissioners discussed future facility expansion needs and the ongoing challenge of housing state and local offenders.
FY 2026-2027 Proposed County Budget
The county approved a $169.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year that keeps property taxes flat at 44.48 cents per $100. It funds key local services, school debt service, and employee compensation.
Opposition to State Property Tax Limitations
Commissioners discussed state-level property tax reform proposals and revaluation spikes, emphasizing the need to address valuation increases rather than capping tax levies.
Havelock Building Inspections Consolidation
Craven County will take over building permitting and inspection services inside the City of Havelock starting June 1, streamlining services under the county planning department.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council FY27 Funding Plan
The JCPC requested level funding of $320,335 for local youth programs, which the commissioners unanimously approved.