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Durham commissioners approve $16.56M for Sheriff’s training facility after split vote
Summary
After lengthy public comment and a split 3-2 vote, the Durham County Board of Commissioners approved $16,555,735 in limited-obligation bond funding for a new Sheriff’s Training Facility and authorized contracts with a $15,465,498 GMP and a not-to-exceed budget of $15,929,463.
The Durham County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Jan. 13 to approve $16,555,735 in limited-obligation bond (LOB) funding for a new Durham County Sheriff’s Training Facility, authorizing a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $15,465,498 and a not-to-exceed construction budget of $15,929,463.
Vice Chair Dr. Mike Lee moved the funding measure, which Commissioner Stephen Valentine seconded; Commissioners Michelle Burton, Lee and Valentine voted yes, and Chair Nida Allam and Commissioner Wendy Jacobs voted no.
The item drew extended public comment. Dozens of residents spoke both in opposition and in support. Opponents raised concerns about county priorities, the cost of a separate Sheriff’s backup call center, and the need to expand alternative crisis-response services countywide before committing capital funds. Supporters emphasized deputy training and safety.
Commissioner Wendy Jacobs explained her no vote, saying she supported training but could not separate the capital funding decision from broader accountability and service-delivery questions. "I am not able to vote tonight in support of the $16 million in LOB funding for the new sheriff training facility," Jacobs said, citing concerns about duplicate 911 operations, detention-center staffing and the need for HEART expansion.
Chair Nida Allam also opposed the measure, saying community members had repeatedly requested more accountability and transparency from the Sheriff’s Office and that efforts to convene a meeting between community members and the Sheriff had not yielded a response. "I cannot vote in favor of this funding when the community has repeatedly been asking for accountability and transparency into the Sheriff's Office," Allam said.
Commissioner Michelle Burton and Vice Chair Lee said they supported the center as necessary to ensure deputies receive training and benefitted from coordinated program expansion. Commissioner Valentine described the project as a capital improvement that falls within the Sheriff’s mandated responsibilities.
The motion included an instruction that staff would present a framework for evaluating potential countywide expansion of the Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams (HEART) program at the March 3, 2025 meeting.
The board asked staff to provide clarifying information about county investments in the Sheriff’s Office and countywide services. County Manager Claudia Hager said staff would provide additional data and work with the Sheriff’s Office and other officials on next steps.
The board approved the LOB appropriation and authorized the County Manager to execute related construction contracts with the team of CT Wilson Construction Company/Rankin III Grading for Project 4310DC091.
