Durham County calls for range of budget cuts

Durham, N.C. — Durham Public Schools and Durham Technical Community College could see a 3 percent budget cut under a plan laid out Monday by County Manager Mike Ruffin.

Fiscal analysts have forecast a $14.25 million shortfall in the county budget this year, prompting Ruffin to call for $8.9 million in cuts to county departments. The remainder of the shortfall would have to be made up through other county-funded agencies, include public schools, Durham Tech, the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science and various nonprofits, he said.

The county Board of Commissioners will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 to get feedback from the school board about the proposed cuts before taking any action.

Wake County already has cut county budgets by 4 percent and asked the school district to cut its spending by more than $5 million to make up a projected $17 million shortfall.