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Durham County approves budget with property tax increase, more money for schools
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Durham County approves budget with property tax increase, more money for schools

Posted: 6/9/2026, 2:02:10 AM

Durham County commissioners unanimously approved a $1.05 billion budget on Monday.

The budget includes $704.24 million in the general fund. Among its highlights:

  • A property tax increase of 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. It will cost about $90 more per year for a $450,000 home. The county’s property tax is 57.92 cents per $100 of valuation.
    • The Durham Board of County Commissioners increased the county manager’s proposed budget by $4.33 million. The largest amount of the board’s increase will provide more funding for Durham Public Schools.
      • Durham Public Schools received a $14.55 million increase (6.48%) compared to the county’s previous fiscal year. DPS’ total funding is $239,078,901 from the county. It brings the local per pupil funding amount to $5,998.
        • 2% cost-of-living increase in employee salaries.
          • 10 new full-time employees in the county’s Emergency Medical Services unit
            • Five reallocated full-time employees in the Durham County Sheriff’s Office

              “Approving this budget was not easy, and it was never meant to be. Sound stewardship rarely is,” said Dr. Mike Lee, chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners. “We did this work through genuinely difficult times, and we did it the right way—by listening.

              “Over these past months, residents filled our meetings, shared their stories, and pushed us to think harder about what Durham truly needs. The discussions were passionate, sometimes uncomfortable, and always necessary. That is what democracy is supposed to look like.”

              The upcoming fiscal year starts on July 1.