Durham BOCC Regular Session June 8th, 2026

The Durham Board of County Commissioners held a regular session on June 8, 2026, focusing primarily on the adoption of the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. Key procurement-related discussions included a proposed 2.5 cent property tax increase to fund classified staff wage increases, with a commitment of $2.65 million from Durham Public Schools to support these raises. The budget also allocates over $3 million for new ambulances and hiring paramedics, $468,000 for the Department of Social Services, $50,000 for family reunification support, and $156,000 for public health. Additionally, more than $10 million is dedicated to the Durham PreK program and over $14.5 million in new funding for Durham Public Schools, which remains the largest budget recipient. Commissioners acknowledged the challenges of balancing tax increases with affordability and emphasized ongoing collaboration with Durham Public Schools and community partners. The budget ordinance was moved, seconded, and adopted during the meeting.