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Durham manager proposes 3.5¢ tax-rate increase in $1B-plus recommended budget
Summary
County staff presented a recommended FY2025-26 budget that would raise the property tax rate by 3.5¢, add roughly $30 million in new revenue for education, public safety staffing and capital projects, and create a limited number of new FTEs while offsetting vacant positions.
Durham County manager's recommended FY2025-26 budget, presented May 12, proposes a 3.5¢ increase in the property tax rate to raise about $30 million to support education, public safety staffing, capital projects and debt service. Budget presenter Tara Lum framed the plan as balancing slower revenue growth against rising costs and said the total county budget across funds exceeds $1 billion while the General Fund would increase to about $688 million.
"This proposed budget is a delicate balancing act between limited resources, resident economic stress, and nearly infinite needs," Tara Lum said during the presentation. Lum told commissioners that slower sales-tax growth and other revenue declines forced difficult tradeoffs and that the recommended tax increase would support Durham Public Schools, employee merit pay, and capital needs. She said the recommended DPS increase is about $10.3 million for current expense funding and that per-pupil county funding would rise by roughly $128 to $5,496 per student.
The manager's presentation identified a number of priorities: staffing additions concentrated in public safety (including five sheriff's office law-enforcement officers and 12 new paramedic/EMT positions), replacement of vehicles including ambulances, funding for Durham Technical Community College student scholarships, and one-time capital funds for school deferred maintenance. Lum said the county faces slower growth in sales tax and other revenues and that the budget incorporates a $10 million one-time allocation in the CIP for urgent school repairs.
Commissioners asked about the public hearing schedule and next steps: a public hearing is set for May 27, with budget work sessions running May 20, 22, 29 and June 3, and adoption planned for June 9. The manager's staff and budget team, including Budget Director Keith Lane, will be available at upcoming sessions to answer commissioner questions and provide data that informed revenue and position choices.
Commissioners and staff emphasized the need to balance fiscal stability and core services while minimizing burdens on residents; the manager asked the board to consider efficiency measures and warned of a potential growing gap between resources and needs in coming years.
