Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Durham County budget debate centers on school staffing and possible small tax increases as commissioners weigh needs
Summary
Public commenters told commissioners Durham Public Schools and county departments lack staff and pay, with school physical‑therapy teams operating at roughly 55–62% capacity. Commissioners discussed revenue constraints, federal/state shifts and the possibility of modest property tax increases to fund raises.
Durham County commissioners began formal consideration of the fiscal year 2026–27 budget during their June 8 meeting, hearing public testimony that highlighted chronic staffing shortages and pay problems in Durham Public Schools and other county departments.
Heidi Joe Hetland, a physical therapist with Durham Public Schools, told the board that the district has not given raises to classified staff in two years and that salary compression undermines recruitment and retention. "The PT department of nine people have lost six," she said, adding that remaining staff are covering a countywide caseload and that losses put federally mandated services at risk.
Christy Clam, lead physical therapist, said the PT department has operated at about 62% staffing for most of the year and recently dropped to roughly 55%. She described the operational burden this creates: writing reports and attending meetings outside normal hours to keep students' Individualized Education Program services in compliance.
County Manager Hager and budget staff outlined the tradeoffs behind the proposal. Manager Hager said many departments were required to take reductions and that "a number of departments, every other department in the county, almost every other department had at least a 2% budget cut to help pay for the budget in total." He warned that federal and state policy shifts and revenue pressures mean the county faces several difficult years ahead.
Commissioners discussed revenue options and the political sensitivity of tax increases. One staff member provided a basic example of property tax incidence: "One cent on a $400,000 home is $40. One cent on a $200,000 home is $20; half a cent would be half that amount." Commissioner Burton said she would be willing to consider a quarter‑cent increase to help fund raises. Other commissioners emphasized competing needs — public safety, human services and schools — and the obligation to preserve the county's fiscal stability and credit rating.
The board did not adopt a final tax or raise package at the meeting. Commissioners said they would continue to weigh options, balancing immediate staffing concerns with long‑term revenue stability and the likelihood of federal and state funding changes.
