Concerns over pay for Durham Public School employees may not be over.

After months of protests over incorrectly implemented salary changes earlier this year, the school board did put those raises in their budget, and Durham educators were happy with the school board's proposed budget for next year.

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However, their request exceeds the proposed funding from the county – by a large amount.

School Board leaders and County Commissioners met to discuss the numbers on Tuesday. DPS said they needed a roughly $27 million increase in funding, which included salary increases for educators and classified staff. However, the County's proposal allocated only an additional $13 million for DPS.

According to the County, funding DPS’ additional $27 million would equal approximately a 5-cent increase in the property tax rate. The County’s current property tax rate is 75.12 cents per $100 of property valuation, and the proposed budget already includes a 3.25-cent increase.

“The decision to not fully fund DPS’ request was a difficult one arising out of a growing concern that DPS funding, year over year, is outpacing the natural growth of major revenue sources, like property taxes and sales taxes, are unsustainable,” the county said in the proposal. “With DPS eventually taking up more and more available new funds needed across many different departments and county programs.”

The proposal said the school district's annual funding from the county has increased by $47.8 million in the last four fiscal years.

Under DPS' proposal, implementing the compensation study for classified salary increases would cost $8.8 million, and supplemental increases for teacher salaries would be another $4.5 million.

"I will say to you like never before, our house is on fire," School Board Member Jovonia Lewis told County Commissioners. "The immediate needs we have with compensation for employees, you're talking about people walking out. This house is on fire."

"This amount is not an exaggeration," said Board Member Alexandra Valladares. "It is literally what we need."

During her presentation, interim DPS superintendent Catty Moore pointed to places where the district has tried to tighten its belt and lessen its budget ask for next year, including eliminating flexibility of school-based staff beyond formulas, tightening the hiring payroll for teachers with emergency licenses, eliminating out of state travel, and freezing local expenditures for this year.

"I am aware that the proposed amount to be provided to DPS is not 27.735 million dollars, and I am thankful for the consideration and the work that has been done already and am hopeful that we can continue to dialogue," Moore told the group.

Durham Public Schools provided WRAL News with the following statement in response to the county’s proposed funding.

“The Durham Public Schools Board of Education appreciates the Board of County Commissioners’ acknowledgment of our needs in public education. Our sincere and fervent hope is that we will all continue to advocate for the additional funds and support needed to ensure that our students and teachers are resourced with high-quality academic support and safe, conducive learning and work facilities. We know that advocacy is a team sport, and our team comprises many players from the County to the state legislature. Our collaboration is critical to student success, and our success as a district and county. We are all accountable for the win, that being our students’ success and our employee recruitment and retention. We welcome ongoing communication, collaboration, and dedication to the support of Durham students. It is incumbent upon all of us to invest our resources in public education, for it is here that all students regardless of race, creed, or origin, are given an equitable chance at success.”

What else is in the 2025 FY budget for Durham County

Sowell proposed an overall budget of more than $954 million, a 7% increase from the county's budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

The budget proposal included a 3.25-cent increase in the property tax rate. If approved, the county-wide property tax rate would be 78.47 cents for every $100 property valuation.

The budget proposal also included:

  • 3% increase in employee salaries
    • $1.4 million for the eviction diversion program
      • 10 new job positions
        • $845,000 in additional funding for operational needs in the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.

          The county will ask for public comment before finalizing the budget. You can read the full budget proposal here.