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Durham County adopts FY2025-26 budget, adds funding for Durham Public Schools
Summary
The Durham County Board of Commissioners on June 9 unanimously approved the FY2025-26 budget, including a tax increase of 3.5 cents per $100 valuation above the revenue-neutral rate and new local funding for Durham Public Schools; commissioners described the DPS package and one-time capital support in varied terms.
The Durham County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the FY2025-26 budget during its June 9 regular session, endorsing a tax increase of 3.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation above the revenue-neutral rate of 51.92 cents and directing new local funds to Durham Public Schools.
Why it matters: The budget frames county services and school funding for the coming fiscal year and draws on a mix of ongoing and one-time sources, including remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, to pay for education supplements, pre-K, public safety and other priorities.
The vote: Commissioner Wendy Jacobs moved to adopt the budget ordinance for FY2025-26; Commissioner Michelle Burton seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
What the board approved and why: Commissioners described a package of increases for Durham Public Schools intended to cover continuation costs and targeted salary supplements. Chair Nida Allam emphasized an increase she described as $15.927 million for DPS and said some of the funding would come from remaining ARPA resources, including $723,000 earmarked for pre-K and $3 million for infrastructure. Commissioner Wendy Jacobs described the board’s action as an increase of $2.75 million in addition to the County Manager’s proposed $10.4 million, which she said produced $13.15 million in new funding; Commissioner Michelle Burton described adding $2.57 million above the manager’s recommendation and a one-time $10 million capital allocation. The transcript records these different framings by different speakers.
On taxes and trade-offs: Commissioner Jacobs noted the board kept the proposed tax-rate increase at 3.5 cents per $100 valuation "on top of the new revenue neutral tax rate of 51.92 cents," and several commissioners said rising property valuations, the loss of federal funds such as ARPA and uncertainty about federal Medicaid and SNAP funding influenced their choices.
Other fiscal priorities: Commissioners said the final budget preserves investments in pre-K, expands Project BUILD for youth prevention, adds EMS positions and ambulances, increases Durham Tech support, and includes targeted funding for safety-net programs such as eviction diversion and food insecurity services.
Quotes: Chair Nida Allam said, "I just want to again emphasize the increase of $15.927 million dollars for DPS." Commissioner Jacobs said the board "found a way to increase Durham Public Schools’ funding" and described the package’s components, including salary supplements and capital support.
Next steps: The budget ordinance was adopted on June 9 and county staff will implement the plan for FY2025-26. The Board recessed to closed session later the same evening and adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
