Durham Council Passes Budget, Approves Two Developments

On Monday night, the Durham City Council adopted its $772 million budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, a plan that prioritizes public safety, employee compensation, and major infrastructure investments.

The new budget includes a property tax rate of 43.71 cents per $100 of assessed value – an increase of 5.48 cents over the revenue-neutral rate – to support expanded services and capital projects.

A Growing City, A Bigger Budget

The approved budget represents an 8% increase over last year’s, driven by Durham’s continued population growth and the need for expanded services and infrastructure. Major spending areas include:

• Community Safety: Funding for new HEART response teams, legal aid programs like DEAR and eviction diversion.
• City Employees: Competitive wages including a new minimum livable wage of $21.90/hour.
• Public Services: Expanded GoDurham service with free fares through June 2026, and investments in street safety.
• Infrastructure: More than $537 million in capital improvement projects across parks, stormwater, roads, and water systems.

What This Means for Residents

For the average Durham homeowner (median home value: $415,000), the new tax rate translates to an annual city property tax bill of approximately $1,814.

Key Investments by Category

Community Safety

• 17 new full-time positions for HEART teams
• Continued support for DEAR and eviction prevention programs

City Employees

• Pay increases across departments
• Livable wage raised from $19.58 to $21.90/hour

Public Transportation and Safety

• $17 million for GoDurham expansion (and free bus rides through June 2026)
• $500,000 for Vision Zero crash prevention
• Significant increases in street and sidewalk repair funds

Parks and Recreation

• $7 million for lead soil cleanup at five parks
• $43 million aquatic center at Merrick-Moore Park
• $42 million greenway project connecting Long Meadow and East End parks

Infrastructure and Streets

• Investments in traffic signals, bike routes, safer crossings, and more
• $25 million for street repaving
• $10 million for sidewalk repairs

SeeGov captured the meeting. Here are some excerpts of council member comments after the budget passed:

Durham Development Approvals

The council also held public hearings at which two Durham developments won approval and a third got delayed until August.

Methodist Street Townhouses – planned for 18 townhomes along South Miami Boulevard, passed with a vote of 6-1. The East Cornwallis Road project with 10 townhomes passed unanimously. But the developer who wanted a height increase at 401 Lakewood Avenue asked for – and received – a continuance until the council’s Aug. 4 meeting.

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