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 county investments during their remarks, including targeted dollars for salary supplements, master’s pay restoration for certain staff, and funding for exceptional children and transportation priorities.

Public commenters from the Durham Association of Educators (DAE) and school staff highlighted classroom and support shortages they said would worsen without full local funding. Micah Tweetmeyer, president of the DAE, said cuts would result in “cuts to staffing, not enough EC supports for our students,” and urged the board to fund the district’s full request so schools would not “return to school with fewer educators, transportation workers, custodians and other supplies.” Several speakers described operational impacts if staffing is reduced: late buses causing missed class time for students with Individualized Education Programs, heavy caseloads for EC staff, and shortages of bus drivers and monitors.

In remarks after the vote, commissioners and the county manager emphasized fiscal constraints the board considered, including rapid increases in property reappraisals, reduced federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funding previously available to the county, and uncertainty around federal and state revenues. Commissioners described the budget as a compromise that preserved core services while directing funds to education, public safety and workforce programs. Among the line-item and program highlights mentioned on the record during the meeting:

- Additional local funding for Durham Public Schools beyond the manager’s recommendation (board-specified amounts described in commissioners’ remarks). Commissioner Burton described a $2,570,000 ongoing addition plus $10,000,000 one-time capital funding; other commissioners described related allocations for salary supplements and master’s pay restoration. - Twelve new EMS positions and five new ambulances to expand emergency medical services capacity. - Continued funding for Durham Pre-K (commissioners referenced maintaining more than $8.7 million for the program). - A $12.6 million investment in Durham Technical Community College and $500,000 for a “Back to Work & Build” program, and just over $2 million for a Durham scholarship program for high school students. - Investments in transit and planning, including funding referenced by the board in support of transit improvements.

The board’s adoption followed the approval of other budget-related items on the same agenda: a fee schedule and an opioid settlement fund ordinance and related spending resolutions (see “Votes at a glance” below). County Manager Claudia Hager and budget staff were thanked repeatedly by commissioners for producing a tightened budget recommendation amid those fiscal constraints; the manager emphasized the difficulty of the cycle and urged residents to file appeals where reappraisal values appear incorrect.

Voices at the meeting reflected different perspectives on fiscal trade-offs. Residents supporting the manager’s recommended tight budget urged the board to avoid risky discretionary spending and preserve current services for existing residents. Other speakers, especially school employees and union representatives, urged the board to prioritize additional school funding to prevent staff losses and service disruptions.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the FY2025–26 budget ordinance (motion moved by Commissioner Wendy Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Michelle Burton; outcome: adopted by voice vote). The board also adopted the fee schedule for the budget and approved opioid-settlement spending resolutions and an opioid settlement fund ordinance (see actions array for motion text and movers). The consent agenda, which included a contract to develop a Durham Bus Rapid Transit vision plan (item 25-0315), was adopted earlier in the meeting; Commissioner Wendy Jacobs asked staff questions about how that study will incorporate the FAST regional study and additional public engagement.