Homeowners to pay more as Raleigh, Durham County pass 2027 budgets
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Raleigh homeowners are going to pay more in property taxes next year.
The Raleigh City Council approved its fiscal year 2027 budget on Monday, raising the property tax rate to 37.2 cents for every $100 of assessed value.
For the owner of a home at the median assessed value of $391,000, that's an increase of about $67 a year on the city tax bill alone.
On the spending side, the $1.76 billion budget pays for 23 new police officer positions, 12 new firefighters, and six new 911 operators.
It also keeps the two-hour free parking program in five downtown garages.
Durham County budget approved
Also on Monday, Durham County commissioners approved a $1.05 billion budget.
The new tax rate is 2.5 cents higher for a total of 57.92 cents for every $100 of assessed value.
"Approving this budget was not easy, and it was never meant to be. Sound stewardship rarely is," said Dr. Mike Lee, Chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners. "We did this work through genuinely difficult times, and we did it the right way - by listening. Over these past months, residents filled our meetings, shared their stories, and pushed us to think harder about what Durham truly needs. The discussions were passionate, sometimes uncomfortable, and always necessary. That is what democracy is supposed to look like."
The budget is about 1% larger than last year's and includes a 6.5% increase in funding for Durham Public Schools, bringing the district's total county support to more than $239 million. The budget includes a 2% cost of living raise for county employees.
