Durham County adopts FY2025–26 budget, approves tax increase and school funding additions

Durham County commissioners voted June 9 to adopt the county’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget, approving a property tax increase of 3.5 cents per $100 of valuation above the new revenue-neutral rate and directing additional funds to Durham Public Schools and several county priorities.

The board approved the budget by voice vote after a public comment period in which numerous Durham Public Schools teachers, bus drivers and school staff urged the commissioners to fully fund the school district’s request and restore master’s pay for eligible employees. “We really need y’all to find the money to fully fund the requested budget so that we can keep dedicated teachers, social workers, bus drivers, bus monitors, and IAs here in Durham,” said Sonia Talheimer, a teacher at Lakewood Elementary.

The board’s adopted budget keeps the manager’s recommended tax increase of 3.5¢ and includes board-directed additions and reallocations described by commissioners during the meeting. Commissioner Michelle Burton said the board added $2,570,000 above the county manager’s recommendation for Durham Public Schools and an additional $10,000,000 in one-time capital funding, which she said “for any capital improvement needs” brings those board-directed additions to $15,000,000. Other commissioners described additional school and…