Durham County commissioners approve $889.5 million budget

DURHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- In Durham the county board of commissioners approved the county's $889.5 million budget proposal on Monday evening.

It includes a 3-cent property tax increase.

That makes the total countywide tax rate 75.22 cents per $100 valuation, up from the current 72.22 cents per $100 valuation.

The adopted budget is approximately 12% more than the previous year's budget.

As a part of the budget process, the Board increased the County Manager's Recommended Budget by $936,146. The biggest chunk of that expanded amount is to provide funding for a Forensic Community Support Team that will offer enhanced services, housing assistance, and peer support to people with legal issues who are deemed to have serious mental illnesses.

The budget provides $187.9 million for Durham Public Schools, an increase of $10.8 million to support the per-pupil amount of $4,650.

Additional DPS funding includes $1.57 million for "certified" salary increases, $1.52 million for "classified" salary increases, $1.81 million for retirement and health insurance increases, $4.09 million for classified study proposed salary increases and $1.8 million for charter school support.

Durham Technical Community College will receive $11.7 million, a 20.15% increase from the previous year.

Commissioners also approved funding for a "Pay for Performance" or "Merit" salary increase for all county employees of 3% to 4%. Additionally, per a County initiated compensation study recommendation, all positions will receive a 7% salary increase to match market rates for existing positions.

You can take a detailed look at the county's approved budget here.