Transit staff warn FY27 requests outpace plan; commissioners debate whether to amend or seek new revenue
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Summary
Staff told commissioners that new FY27 transit requests (maintenance facilities, Fayetteville Road corridor, fare‑free support and operating funds) exceed projected revenues ($44M forecast) and would create a deficit unless projects are delayed or a transit plan amendment is adopted; commissioners debated preserving BRT funding and pursuing a new regional sales‑tax referendum.
Transit staff outlined the FY27 work program, an updated revenue forecast and a list of partner requests that together threaten to exceed the adopted Durham Transit Plan’s projected capacity.
Brandy Minor and Ellen Beckman said the half‑cent sales tax is now projected at $44 million for the year and that excess fund balances and prior better‑than‑expected revenue growth had allowed new projects previously. The staff presented multiple partner requests — including up to $64.7M for GoDurham maintenance facilities, $22M for Fayetteville Road projects, and recurring support requests for fare‑free transit of up to $2.2M annually — and said any of the large requests modeled individually would break the existing financial baseline.
"The model is projected to enter a deficit in FY28," staff warned, and recommended either delaying or canceling projects, or considering a transit plan amendment to reprioritize and identify additional funding. Commissioners reacted sharply: several (including Commissioner Jacobs) opposed changing the adopted plan and urged protecting the 26% placeholder for quick/regional connections used to fund BRT or rail; others proposed exploring an additional, regionally coordinated sales‑tax referendum to generate new local revenue for transit expansion.
Staff described options: a status‑quo budget would leave about $4.2M available for new requests this year, while adopting requested items without offsetting changes would create long‑term deficits. Commissioners asked for a prioritized recommendation for how to spend the available $4.2M and asked transit staff to return with scenarios and public‑outreach plans during the March public comment period for the draft work program.
Next steps: staff will release the draft work program for a 21‑day public comment period, present to boards in March, and return with a recommended final program and any transit plan amendment requests in April–May.
