SMITHFIELD – County staff is recommending that Johnston County Schools and Johnston Community College get nearly 5 percent less money from the county than last year.

The numbers, released Thursday by County Manager Rick Hester, reflect a tight budget amid revenue shortfalls. Hester is proposing a $168.8 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. That’s nearly $12 million less than this year’s budget.

The county is expecting an increase in property taxes of only 3 percent. The tax base usually increases 5.5 percent every year. County leaders are expecting sales-tax revenue to stay the same.

Hester recommends giving Johnston County Schools about $52.4 million — about $4.8 million less than school leaders had requested. The school system got about $55.2 million from the county this year.

Hester is recommending about $3.9 million for JCC. The college requested about $5 million in county funds – about $1 million more than the county gave this year.

The proposed budget does not include any new employee positions and eliminates or delays funding for at least 10 vacant positions.

County Commissioners will vote on the budget proposal.