Craven County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Craven County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
Renaming the Havelock Bypass as Major General Hugh R. Overholt Highway
The board is being asked to support asking NCDOT to rename the Havelock Bypass in honor of Major General Hugh R. Overholt, who championed U.S. 70 improvements. State and local leaders have already endorsed the idea.
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.
NCDOI Grant Match for Fire Departments
Fire departments can tap a state Department of Insurance grant, but the county must put up a local match. A budget amendment would cover that cost, supporting local volunteer fire services.
Donation for Bike Trails
Recreation & Parks received a donation to help build bike trails, and a budget amendment would accept and allocate the gift.
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.
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.
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.
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.