Durham Superintendent Grateful for County Funding

The Durham Board of County Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a $1.04-billion budget – including nearly $16 million in increased funding for Durham Public Schools, as well as pre-kindergarten programming at Murray-Massenburg Elementary School.

“On behalf of our entire school district – our students, educators, staff, and families – I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Durham County Commissioners for their commitment and support of Durham Public Schools for the 2025-2026 fiscal year,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis in a statement. “The investment demonstrates a shared vision for excellence in public education, DPS, and the future of our community. This ongoing critical support will ensure that every child in our district has access to the high-quality education they deserve, complete with programs and resources that enhance that learning, and the talented educators and staff who bring learning to life each day.”

The county budget includes a tax rate increase of 3.5 cents – 2.5 cents for the county’s general fund and 1 cent for the capital financing plan fund.

Said Commission Chair Nida Allam: “Budgets are not just numbers on a page; they are moral documents. They are declarations of what we value, what we stand for, and who we care for. At their best, they are also documents of love, expressions of a deep commitment to our community.”

Other Durham County budget highlights include:

Merit increases for employee salaries.
$6.3 million increase in county health insurance costs without increases in employee paid support.
12 new full-time emergency medical service staffers.
5 new full-time Sheriff’s Office employees to bolster coverage in Research Triangle Park area.

Thanks to SeeGov, we captured comments from Commissioner Wendy Jacobs about the budget approval:

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