Proposed Durham County budget avoids tax hike, increases school spending

Durham County residents will not see an increase to their property tax bills and schools will receive increased funding under the county's proposed 2015-16 budget, released Tuesday evening.

Posted 1:04 a.m. May 27, 2015 — Updated 1:13 a.m. May 27, 2015

DURHAM, N.C. — Durham County residents will not see an increase to their property tax bills and the school system will receive increased funding under the county’s proposed 2015-16 budget.

The $564 million budget, released Tuesday evening, represents a 2.5 percent increase over last year’s budget and maintains the county’s tax rate of 79.31 cents per $100 valuation.

Durham schools will receive $152 million from the county, a 1.24 percent funding increase.

Other budget priorities include:

Creating a position to initiate the White House’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in Durham County to address challenges faced by boys and young men of color.
Adding nearly 20 full-time positions.
Creating a new fire district covering areas previously served by the Bethesda and Parkwood fire districts. The Durham County Fire and Rescue Service District will have a proposed tax rate of 0.130 cents while the tax rates for Bethesda and Parkwood will be eliminated.

A public hearing for the budget is scheduled for Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m. County commissioners are expected to vote on the budget June 22.

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