From the Desk of the County Manager, March 27, 2026
Celebrating the County Government That Serves You Every Day
April is National County Government Month — a chance to recognize the essential work counties do and spotlight what makes Durham County a place where people live, grow and thrive. Every spring since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has called on communities across the country to pause and recognize how county governments quietly power everyday life. From the roads you drive to the health services you rely on, county government is often the closest layer of public service to one’s home. This April, we join the more than 3,000 counties nationwide in celebrating National County Government Month — and we take a moment to highlight our work here in Durham.
“Counties are the backbone of the intergovernmental system,” said Durham County Commissioner Chair Dr. Michael “Mike” Lee. “We partner with state and federal agencies and municipalities to deliver the critical services our residents depend on every day — maintaining infrastructure, running public health and social services programs, operating courts and detention facilities, managing social services, and ensuring public safety. Durham County Government's 2,220 employees are the engine behind these operations. They show up every day to implement mandates and advance community priorities that help keep Durham County a thriving place to live, work, and grow. During National County Government Month, I am proud and grateful to honor their dedication and service to our residents.’’
The Impact of Durham County Government Services By the Numbers
Now more than ever, the services provided by Durham County government carry tremendous importance. Each day, our agencies show up for residents — especially those who need support the most. Across more than 33 departmental service areas — spanning public safety, environmental services, human services, and cultural and recreational programs — dedicated staff are on the ground serving our community. While time does not permit a full accounting of every department's contribution, I want to highlight a few impacts from our five largest.
Last year, EMS responded to 60,718 emergency calls. During that same period, the Public Health Department served over 12,000 residents through its clinics, filling 16,684 prescriptions, conducting 4,912 dental encounters, and completing 3,398 environmental health inspections, 1,050 site visits, and 19 lead investigations. School Health Nurses logged 11,623 student encounters. Public Health also reached thousands of additional residents through outreach, public education, and other services.
The Department of Social Services supported over 73,426 Durham County residents enrolled in Medicaid and over 30,085 residents receiving Food & Nutrition Services. The department also administered childcare subsidies for working families, provided Child and Adult Protective Services, and offered guardianship services — a need that has grown significantly among our senior population.
The Sheriff's Office responded to 89,697 calls through the Sheriff's Communications Center, including 12,250 Animal Services calls. For library operations, our seven branches welcomed over 525,540 visits last year.
Shaping the Future of Durham County
As we recognize the importance of counties this month, I also invite you to share your thoughts on how we shape the FY 2026-27 budget by taking our annual resident budget survey here. I welcome you to join us for the upcoming virtual community conversation about the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. The moderated event will offer an interactive evening where participants will hear directly from key County staff about operations and budget priorities. Registration here for this event.
To learn more about Durham County Government and the myriad ways the organization supports the community, visit www.dconc.gov.
With Durham County offices closed next Friday in observance of Good Friday, the County Manager’s newsletter will take a brief pause. We look forward to returning with the next edition on April 10.
Warm regards,
Claudia Hager
Durham County Manager