From the Desk of the County Manager, February 27, 2026
Dear Durham County Community,
Each year, Durham County Government embarks on a budget development process to plan for the upcoming fiscal year — and your voice matters every step of the way.
For some context, the County's approved FY 2025-26 budget totals $1.038 billion across all funds. The General Fund, which supports day-to-day operations at nearly $700 million, is primarily funded through property and sales tax (78.2%), with federal, state, and local intergovernmental revenues accounting for an additional 8.7%.
On the expenditure side, Education represents the largest share of the General Fund at 35.8%, with Durham Public Schools receiving $224.5 million, Durham Technical Community College receiving $12.6 million, and the County’s General Fund investment in Pre-K at $8.9 million. Human Services also represents a substantial investment (16.6% of total budget), with funding directed to the Department of Social Services ($67.4M), Public Health ($39.6M), and Mental Health ($4.5M). Public Safety accounts for 13.8% of the General Fund, supporting the Sheriff's Office ($53.6M), Emergency Services ($27.9M), Justice Services ($7.5M), and the Youth Home ($4.2M). General Government operations round out the budget, encompassing debt service ($58.9M of General Fund monies, with a total Debt Services budget of over $116.6M), employee benefits ($45.7M), and administrative operations ($90M) — the latter of which includes departments such as the Register of Deeds, Finance, Budget, Tax Administration, Information Technology, and County Administration. For a more detailed look at the budget, visit the following link: Durham County | Budget & Management Services.
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners convened for a budget retreat focused on the fiscal outlook for FY 2026-27. The retreat provided commissioners and staff an opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and take a broader look at the County's financial trajectory, aligning priorities with available resources as the formal budget process gets underway.
While Durham County Government continues to maintain a strong fiscal position — a reflection of years of sound financial management and prudent decision-making — the path forward presents real challenges. The County faces significant fiscal pressures as demand for critical services continues to grow, capital needs accumulate, and the community's expectations for programs and infrastructure remain high. At the same time, revenue growth has not kept pace with those demands, creating a gap that will require careful deliberation and difficult choices in the months ahead.
The retreat set the stage for those conversations, giving the Board a clearer picture of where the County stands today and what tradeoffs may need to be considered as the FY 2026-27 budget is developed. Residents, stakeholders, and community partners are encouraged to stay engaged as the budget process moves forward. Budget retreat materials can be found on the Board of County Commissioners’ Agenda page on the County website or by using this link.
As we develop the FY 2026-27 budget, we are committed to hearing from you, the residents we serve. Here are several ways you can get involved:
Take the Budget Survey
Share your priorities by completing the annual budget survey. Your responses directly inform how the County Manager's recommended budget is shaped. Residents can provide their feedback directly at this link.
Advance Public Comment — March 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Join us at the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting, where the Board will hold an Advance Public Comment session dedicated to FY 2026-27 budget input. This is your opportunity to speak directly to the Board about the issues and priorities that matter most to you.
Virtual Budget Discussion — March 30 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Attend our moderated virtual community conversation to hear directly from key County staff about operations and budget priorities. The session will include a live Q&A. Registration information will be communicated in the coming weeks and posted on the County’s website here. Look out for future newsletters with updates as well.
Taking into account feedback from the Board, input gathered during the community engagement period, and internal staff deliberations, the budget process will advance according to the following schedule.
• May 11 — County Manager presents recommended budget to the Board of County Commissioners
• May 19-June 4 — Board of County Commissioners budget worksessions
• May 26 — Public hearing on the budget
• June 8 — FY 2026-27 Budget adoption (tentative)
A strong community requires strong community participation. We encourage you to engage, ask questions, and make your priorities heard. Together, we can shape a budget that reflects the needs and values of all Durham County residents.
With appreciation,
Claudia Hager
Durham County Manager