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Durham Public Schools asks Durham County for $15.98M in local budget increases to shore up pay, transportation and facilities
Summary
Superintendent Anthony Lewis presented Durham Public Schools' FY26 request emphasizing teacher and staff retention, transportation fixes and facilities investments. DPS proposes a $700/year local teacher supplement, a $2,000/year bus-driver supplement and an initial $1.1M step toward closing an exceptional‑children funding gap.
Durham Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis told the Durham County Board of Commissioners that the district’s budget request is rooted in community feedback and urgent operational needs. “There are 13 immediate priorities for Durham public schools,” Lewis said, citing transportation shortfalls, staff pay, and infrastructure needs. He reported the average school building age is about 59 years and that the district has identified nearly $900 million in facility investment needs.
Jeremy Teeter, DPS chief financial officer, laid out the district’s continuation and expansion categories and explained how state budget uncertainty affects local planning. Teeter said the district assumed a 3% state raise in developing its continuation cost but noted the governor’s, Senate’s and House’s proposals vary for educator raises. On compensation proposals, Teeter said the district’s expansion plan includes a $700 annual local teacher supplement and a $200 monthly bus‑driver supplement intended to improve recruitment and retention.
Commissioners pressed staff on the numbers and tradeoffs. Commissioner Burton asked whether nonrecurring items could be covered from the board of education’s fund balance; Teeter said the district is exploring one‑time sources for smaller purchases such as instrument refreshes. On exceptional‑children funding, Lewis said Durham’s EC enrollment is roughly 16.4%—above North Carolina’s 13% funding cap—and the district is seeking a staggered local ask of about $1.1 million as the first step toward closing an estimated $5.5 million state funding shortfall.
The board did not take a formal vote on funding. Commissioners identified school compensation and EC funding as top priorities to explore during final budget decisions and asked county staff for follow‑up options that could cover part of DPS’ expansion request without an outsized property‑tax increase.
