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Durham County staff present draft FY27 transit work program, urge caution on slower sales-tax growth
Summary
County and GoTriangle staff presented the draft FY27 Durham Transit Work Program, recommending a status-quo budget amid slower sales-tax growth and highlighting $7.4 million in one-time investment earnings and a $1.7 million parcel reimbursement that buoyed FY25 results. Staff signaled limited new funding and asked boards to weigh partner priorities during the public comment period.
Durham County commissioners heard an overview April 6 of the draft FY27 Durham Transit Work Program, the annual budget that guides projects funded by the county's 0.5¢ transit sales tax. Director Baker and transit staff said the draft holds the sales-tax forecast at $44 million while using conservative assumptions about future growth and fund balance.
Steven Schlossberg, the tax-district administrator, described preliminary, unaudited FY25 results and the factors that temporarily boosted revenues: "$These are unaudited financials," he said, adding the county received about $7.4 million in investment earnings and a $1.7 million reimbursement tied to a parcel sale that raised FY25 revenues above the base sales-tax total. Staff cautioned that investment income is unpredictable and should not be treated as recurring operating revenue.
Why it matters: the staff-recommended, status-quo draft would preserve the adopted priorities in the transit plan while leaving limited discretionary funds to address partner requests. Commissioners raised concerns about capital projects already programmed but not yet spent; Commissioner Jacobs said, "I see a lot of red flags" when reviewing encumbrances and partner spending rates, urging staff to avoid allocating funds to projects that are not shovel-ready.
Staff next steps: the draft will remain open for public comment; staff plan follow-up presentations to the GoTriangle audit and finance committee and to the county and GoTriangle boards in May and June before final approvals.
