Durham commissioners review federal goals: housing, Medicaid expansion, HBCU support and earned-income tax credit among priorities

Durham County staff presented the county’s draft federal legislative goals and asked commissioners for direction on which items to forward to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC). Deborah Craig Ray (speaker 6) led the presentation and solicited guidance: "So whatever directive you would like to give me, we will move forward with," she said.

Commissioners reviewed examples of past priorities they might carry forward, including support for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and expanded federal investments in childcare and Head Start programs. Commissioners also discussed housing as a central federal priority. One commissioner referenced a recent federal proposal introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Tina Smith and suggested the county ask its federal delegation to sign on to that legislation to spur large-scale affordable housing production.

Discussion also touched on HUD program limitations and on technical changes the county might request: a commissioner noted recent cuts or limits to some down-payment assistance and the need to make federal housing tax credits and program rules more flexible for local projects (for example, reducing rigid grocery-store requirements tied to some developments). Members raised supporting an HBCU omnibus and initiatives to expand AI and drone-program access at HBCUs; a commissioner asked staff to research existing federal efforts and return options. Commissioners also flagged care-worker policies (a domestic workers bill of rights) and an expansion of the earned-income tax credit — one board member urged supporting proposals that increase the credit to a $6,000 allowance rather than smaller amounts.

Staff said it would draft background materials and return a proposed package for the board to vet before filing with NCACC.