Durham, N.C. – Durham County Manager Dr. Kimberly J. Sowell presented the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Recommended Budget to the Board of County Commissioners this evening during the Regular Session. The proposed overall county budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $889,605,733, a 12.1 percent increase from the last fiscal year. The budget includes a modest tax increase of 3 cents, with half going into the General Fund and the rest will be added to the Capital Financing Fund. The total Countywide tax rate in the new fiscal year will be 75.22 cents per $100 valuation.
Highlights from her presentation to the Board included investing in Durham County’s employees through a County-wide adjustment while also maintaining the current “Pay for Performance” range, increasing funding for Durham Public Schools by $10.8 million (total of $187,951,627), raising the amount for Durham Pre-K by $1,152,000 to a total of $7.9 million in the annual funding along with American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA appropriation and support of $3.26 million.
In preparing for the budget process, departments were asked to review their overall operations and to look for areas of funding that might be reappropriated. As a result of the collaborative work of department directors and staffs, this budget was balanced thanks to a $2.5 million reduction in operational expenditures.
Property Tax Rate Increase
Manager Sowell recommended a budget that increases the current tax rate from 72.22 cents per $100 dollars of valuation to 75.22 to address increased growth, and to ensure there is sufficient revenue to support existing investments along with a few modest expansions in critical service areas. As noted in last year’s successful Bond Referendum, a portion of this increased tax rate will be used to finance capital projects.
Increases for Durham Public Schools, Durham Technical Community College
Funding for education remains a priority for the Board and the recommended budget proposes $10.8 million in additional support for Durham Public Schools. This recommendation includes $1.57 million for “certified” salary increases; $1.52 million for “classified” salary increases $1.81 million for retirement and health insurance increases $4.09 million for classified study proposed salary increases and $1.8 million for Charter School support.
Durham Technical Community College’s County funding increases by $1,963,631 or 20.15% from the previous year. Funding of $500,00 is available for Durham Tech’s “Back to Work (BTW)” initiative and the “BULLS “initiative, the life sciences talent pipeline currently in its third year of operation. This budget provides 14,632,830 for the educational institution.
Other highlights covered in the Manager’s Recommended Budget include:
- Support for 10.3 net new General Fund FTEs, 4 FTEs in Sewer and 2 FTEs in Stormwater Fund at a cost of $3 million.
- Increase of the Solid Waste sticker fee to $169.63 per household annually to support pay increases for existing personnel.
- $4.2 million dollars' worth of new and replacement vehicles (59 in total) in support of the County’s 2030 Green Initiative.
Copies of the recommended budget will be available to the public online on the Durham County Manager’s website and the DCo Budget Department webpage, as a viewable or downloadable PDF document. View the 2023-2024 Recommended Budget Summary here. View the County Manager’s 2023-2024 Recommended Budget Presentation here.
Requests for an electronic copy of the budget proposal should be directed to publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov. Residents without access to an electronic device to view the proposed budget are invited to visit any Durham County Library location where Wi-Fi and computers are available. Hard copies of the FY 2023-2024 Manager’s Recommended Budget will be available at the Clerk to the Board’s office located on the second floor of the Admin I Building.
Once the budget is adopted by the Board, details will be accessible on the County’s Budget webpage.
Budget Work Sessions are planned in May and June. The dates, subject to change, are as follows:
- Tuesday, May 16, 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 24, 1 p.m.
- Thursday, June 1, 9 a.m.
- Monday, June 5, 1:30p.m.
- Tuesday, June 6, 1:30 p.m.
For questions about these session dates and times, contact the Durham Clerk to the Board at 919-560-0025 or clerk@dconc.gov. A public hearing for the FY 2023-2024 Budget is scheduled for Monday, May 22, 2023, during the BOCC’s Regular Session in Chambers at 7 p.m. Residents may sign up to give comment in person or virtually by contacting the Clerk’s office.
The public is welcome to attend all meetings of the BOCC, including the upcoming presentation of the recommended budget either in person or virtually. Seating is limited inside the Chambers due to social distancing guidelines. Seating is on a first come, first-serve basis, with priority given to County staff. A low-capacity overflow seating area will be provided in the lobby on the second floor of the Administration Building. Information on how to join virtual meetings via the Zoom platform are released by the Clerk to the Board’s office.
Residents are invited to make comments about the recommended budget by accessing the County’s Budget Comment Portal or by going to the Durham County Budget Department webpage, as well as participate in the Public Hearing mentioned above on May 22, 2023.
Questions about the proposed budget should be directed to the Durham County Manager’s Office by calling 919-560-0000 or emailing to publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov.
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