INC NEWS - Durham County approves Fiscal Year 2008 Budget

[RW Pickle]

>From the County Public Affairs Office.

RWP
27 Beverly
_____________________________________________________

On Monday, June 25, the Durham County Board of Commissioners unanimously
approved an operating budget that provides Durham Public Schools with an
increase in operational funding of $7.5 million, and allocates $4.59
million for Durham Technical Community College.

The $641.2 million general fund for Fiscal Year 2008 requires a countywide
property tax rate of 83.4 cents per $100 of property valuation, a 2.5 cent
increase from this year's rate. The tax rate increase means the owner of a
home with a tax value of $150,000 will see an increase of $37.50 on next
year's tax bill.

The community will benefit from the funding of 32 non-profit agencies that
provide a variety of services to the public. Those agencies received
$988,564 in the approved budget.

Funding was also made available for 10.76 new County positions.

The new financial year begins July 1.

Budget Highlights:
*	$97.99 million in total funding for Durham Public Schools ($7.5 million
increase in current expense from FY07, or 8.28 % increase
 
*	$4.59 million for Durham Technical Community College, 11.06% increase

*	County match for Medicaid $13.2 million (24.53% increase from $10.6
million FY07 State cap)


Go to http://www.durhamcountync.gov/bdmg/ to view the Budget Ordinance.

For more information contact the Durham County Government at 919 560-0000.