Harnett County, North Carolina, FY2027-2033 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Alert
FirmoGraphs continuously tracks U.S. local government capital plans to help infrastructure market participants understand where and when public owners intend to invest. In the CIP covering the FY2027-2033 fiscal years, Harnett County details plans to spend $115,644,375 on capital projects, a 29.4% decrease from $163,725,047 in its FY2026-2032 CIP. The current CIP has 68 projects, compared to 67 projects in the prior CIP.
Numbers are Rounded
How did Harnett County’s capital spending change between the last two CIPs?
| Metric | FY2026-2032 CIP | FY2027-2033 CIP | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total CIP Value ($) | $163,725,047 | $115,644,375 | -$48,080,672 (-29.4%) |
| Project Count | 67 | 68 | 1 (1.5%) |
| Average Project Value ($) | $2,443,657 | $1,701,534 | -$742,123 (-30.4%) |
Harnett County’s latest CIP shifts toward a larger number of generally smaller projects, reducing total planned capital spending while slightly increasing project count. The decline in overall value is driven primarily by a substantial reduction in school-related capital spending, partially offset by growth in parks and recreation, aviation, and selected public safety programs.
While the total program shrinks by nearly a third, the county still maintains a meaningful multi-year pipeline exceeding $115 million. This mix may reflect the completion or advancement of major school projects into earlier years, combined with a more diversified emphasis on quality of life, transportation, and operational facilities.
Which departments and business areas saw the largest changes in Harnett County’s CIP?
| Program | FY2026-2032 CIP ($) | FY2027-2033 CIP ($) | Change ($) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harnett County Schools | $95,862,889 | $37,841,955 | -$58,020,934 | -60.5% |
| Harnett Regional Jetport | $15,023,517 | $20,804,162 | $5,780,645 | +38.5% |
| EMS | $11,359,418 | $10,163,870 | -$1,195,548 | -10.5% |
| Animal Services | $8,959,440 | $9,316,632 | $357,192 | +4.0% |
| CCCC | $6,874,001 | $6,485,001 | -$389,000 | -5.7% |
| Parks and Recreation | $6,081,839 | $14,650,862 | $8,569,023 | +140.9% |
| Harnett County Sheriff | $4,955,552 | $6,876,472 | $1,920,920 | +38.8% |
| Emergency Service | $4,050,000 | $130,000 | -$3,920,000 | -96.8% |
| Facilities Maintenance | $3,500,000 | $3,500,000 | $0 | 0.0% |
| Development Services | $2,918,720 | $3,399,000 | $480,280 | +16.5% |
| HARTS | $1,668,495 | $1,679,036 | $10,541 | +0.6% |
| IT | $1,447,320 | $0 | -$1,447,320 | -100.0% |
| Public Library | $453,450 | $32,385 | -$421,065 | -92.9% |
| Fleet Maintenance | $560,000 | $0 | -$560,000 | -100.0% |
| Solid Waste | $10,406 | $0 | -$10,406 | -100.0% |
| Cooperative Extension | $0 | $700,000 | $700,000 | NEW |
| DSS | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.0% |
| Board of Elections | $0 | $65,000 | $65,000 | NEW |
| Total | $163,725,047 | $115,644,375 | -$48,080,672 | -29.4% |
Schools remain the largest single program, but planned school capital spending falls by 60.5%, reflecting the completion or rescheduling of major education projects into earlier periods. At the same time, Parks and Recreation grows by 140.9%, driven by the Anderson Creek Nature Center and related amenities, and the Harnett Regional Jetport program increases 38.5% with runway and hangar investments.
Emergency Service funding drops almost entirely, from $4,050,000 to $130,000, and IT, Fleet Maintenance, and Solid Waste all fall to zero in the current plan. New funding programs for Cooperative Extension at $700,000 and the Board of Elections at $65,000 indicate some emerging needs in community support and election infrastructure.
What are the largest projects in Harnett County’s FY2027-2033 CIP?
Harnett County’s FY2027-2033 CIP includes several large and strategically important projects that shape the education, transportation, animal services, and recreation landscape.
- Flatwoods Middle School — $25,636,611 (Harnett County Schools)
Construct a new 154,000-square-foot school to accommodate 1,100 students. - Runway Extension — $13,870,000 (Harnett Regional Jetport)
Construct a 500-foot extension of the HRJ runway. - Schools Maintenance Fund — $9,800,000 (Harnett County Schools)
Replace critical mechanical systems, windows, and roofs. - Animal Shelter Replacement — $9,316,632 (Animal Services)
Construct a new animal services shelter facility. - Anderson Creek Nature Center and Library — $7,740,000 (Parks and Recreation)
Design and construct a multi-use facility.
Taken together, these top projects highlight continued emphasis on school capacity and modernization, enhanced general aviation capabilities, and quality-of-life assets such as parks, libraries, and animal services. For AEC and infrastructure firms, these efforts translate into opportunities in vertical construction, site development, airfield design, building systems upgrades, and community facilities.
What projects were added or dropped between the two CIPs?
The FY2027-2033 CIP adds and removes projects as priorities evolve, but detailed new-versus-dropped project counts and values are not directly available in the summary data provided here. Based on the program-level shifts, most of the contraction appears in the schools and emergency service categories, while growth is concentrated in parks, aviation, and selected county operations.
New funding programs for Cooperative Extension and the Board of Elections suggest the introduction of projects that did not appear in the prior FY2026-2032 CIP. Conversely, the reduction of IT, Fleet Maintenance, and Solid Waste to zero indicates that previously listed projects in these categories have likely been completed, re-scoped, or shifted out of the current planning window.
How is Harnett County’s CIP governed and approved?
In Harnett County, CIP requests typically originate at the department or agency level, where staff identify capital needs and submit proposals for review. These requests are then evaluated by the County Manager’s Office, which works with departments to align projects with strategic priorities, funding availability, and long-range financial plans.
The consolidated CIP is reviewed and approved by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, generally in the fall as part of the county’s broader budget process. This governing structure provides opportunities for stakeholder engagement, public input, and alignment between annual budgets and multi-year capital investments.
What is the history of Harnett County and its infrastructure investments?
Harnett County is located in central North Carolina, with its county seat in Lillington and a population of approximately 140,000 residents. Established in 1855 and named after American Revolutionary War patriot Cornelius Harnett, the county has grown as part of the broader Raleigh–Fayetteville region, blending rural communities, small towns, and suburban development.
The county is home to Campbell University, which contributes to local economic and educational activity, as well as regional attractions such as Raven Rock State Park and the Averasboro Battlefield. These assets, along with ongoing investments in schools, transportation, parks, and public facilities, shape Harnett County’s long-term infrastructure needs and help define priorities in its CIP.
Fun facts about Harnett County
- Harnett County was established in 1855 and named for Cornelius Harnett, a Revolutionary War leader from North Carolina.
- The county seat is Lillington, located along the Cape Fear River between Raleigh and Fayetteville.
- The county is home to Campbell University, Raven Rock State Park, and the historic Averasboro Battlefield, which attract students, outdoor enthusiasts, and history visitors.
Harnett County CIP Alert FAQs
How FirmoGraphs can help
FirmoGraphs specializes in turning public capital improvement plans into structured, actionable intelligence for business development and strategic planning. By tracking Harnett County and many other jurisdictions, FirmoGraphs helps infrastructure and AEC firms identify upcoming projects, understand long-term spending trends, and prioritize markets.
Our platform provides searchable access to multi-year CIPs, sector-level trends, and project details that go beyond what is easily visible in individual PDFs or spreadsheets. To see how FirmoGraphs can support your team’s pursuit strategy in Harnett County and across the United States, request a meeting through our website and explore our CIP and infrastructure market insights.