The Durham City Council has passed a new budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 totaling $772 million, reflecting an 8% increase over the previous year. This budget, as outlined on the City of Durham's official website, places a heavy emphasis on community safety, city employee support, enhancing service delivery, as well as investing in critical infrastructure projects.
Residents will see a property tax rate change to 43.71 cents for every $100 of assessed value, a step up to fund various initiatives. For an average home valued at $415,000, this translates to an annual property tax bill of about $1,814. The council's decision aims to strategically address ongoing needs such as expanding community safety programs, accommodating the city's growth, ensuring competitive employee compensation, and managing voter-approved bond projects for improving parks, streets, and sidewalks.
Investments in community safety are notably significant, with the allocation of 17 new full-time staffers for the HEART response team. Additionally, the Durham Expunction and Restoration Program and the Eviction Diversion Program will continue to receive support, offering assistance in expunging past criminal charges, restoring driver's licenses, and helping low-income renters to avoid eviction. The new budget also includes substantial enhancements to employee support, including an increase in the minimum livable wage for city workers from $19.58 to $21.90 per hour.
For service improvements, residents can look forward to continued fare-free GoDurham buses through June 2026 and further investments totaling $17 million in expanding bus service. In the sphere of public safety, $500,000 is set aside to further carry out the Vision Zero initiative for reducing fatal crashes on the city's roads. Regarding future infrastructure, over 70 projects are covered within the Capital Improvement Plan, boasting a hefty sum of $537.6 million dedicated to endeavors such as $25.7 million toward stormwater improvements and $315.7 million for water and sewer system enhancements.
Park updates are not left behind with $7 million being added for lead soil cleanup in five parks. Simultaneously, the park maintenance crew will grow with six new staff positions, and a combined $85 million earmarked for the development of new aquatic and park connection projects. The improvements extend to street and sidewalk revamps with a considerable hike in funding; street repaving to the tune of $25 million and $10 million for sidewalk repairs illustrate the Council’s commitment to more robust infrastructure. The budget also drills down to finer points such as traffic signal installation, pedestrian signal upgrades, and funds for safer school zones, ensuring a detailed approach to the city's transformation.
