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<b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E">News Media Contact<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:right;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<a href="mailto:CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="font-size:50.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467F">News Release</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467F;text-transform:uppercase">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#EF3D42">For Immediate Release: May 20, 2024</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#D3372A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="paragraph" align="center" style="margin:0in;text-align:center;vertical-align:baseline">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Durham’s Proposed FY24-25 Budget Highlights Employee Compensation and Capital Improvements</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" align="center" style="margin:0in;text-align:center;vertical-align:baseline">
<span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">3.85 Cents Tax Rate Increase Proposed</span></i></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun">DURHAM, N.C. – City Manager Wanda Page presented her proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 budget at tonight’s City Council meeting, which includes a property tax rate increase of 3.85 cents to support increased
employee compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b>What You Need to Know<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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New proposed property tax rate of 59.62 cents per $100 of assessed value, which is a 3.85 cents increase.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-.25in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
Budget supports increased employee compensation and capital improvement projects.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-.25in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
Community members invited to share feedback at the <a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=9083">
June 3 budget public hearing</a>.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun">Page’s recommended total proposed budget is </span>$667.8
<span class="normaltextrun">million, which is a 9.47% increase from last year’s adopted budget, primarily due to
<span style="color:black">increases needed for employee market-rate compensation adjustments. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span class="normaltextrun">Page recommended a new property tax rate of 59.62 cents per $100 of assessed value, which is an increase of 3.85 cents from last fiscal year’s approved rate of 55.77
cents. If approved by City Council next month, the new tax rate will generate a City of Durham property tax bill of about
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">$1,517 on a house valued at $254,421,
</span><span class="normaltextrun">which is the median home tax value in Durham according to the Durham County Office of Tax Administration.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun">According to Page, the funding needed to bring employee salaries in line with market rates is the primary factor driving a property tax rate increase in this year’s proposed budget. “A critical component of
this year’s budget is to implement our </span><a href="https://cityordinances.durhamnc.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/WS-Published%20Attachment%20-%2016946%20-%20PRESENTATION%20-%202%20-%20FY24%20CLASSIFICATION%20AND.pdf?meetingId=642&documentType=Agenda&itemId=37962&publishId=214067&isSection=false">Classification
and Compensation Study</a><span class="normaltextrun">, which found that all of our pay plans are below market rates,” Page said. “</span><span class="eop">It’s no secret that the City of Durham, like most municipalities and private-sector employers, is experiencing
a shortage of workers in several areas, especially our Public Safety and Operations departments – areas that are critical to providing vital services, including keeping our city safe, providing safe drinking water, and collecting solid waste for our residents.
Fairly compensating our employees for their hard work and dedication to our community will help us ensure that our organization remains competitive to retain our employees and attract new employees to fill our many vacancies.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun">In Page’s proposed budget, in addition to funding market-rate salary adjustments, she is also recommending pay-for-performance increases of 5% for general step plan employees, 4% to 6% for open range employees,
and 5% for sworn police and fire employees. The Durham Minimum Livable Wage for City employees will also be increased from $18.46 per hour to $19.58 per hour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="color:black">Funding for three new full-time positions is included to increase staffing resources for the work of the Planning and Transportation departments.</span><span style="color:red">
</span>Funding is also included to support the Guaranteed Income Program, the Hayti Reborn Justice Movement, the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, the
</span><a href="https://www.deardurham.org/">Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) Program</a><span class="normaltextrun">, the
</span><a href="https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-f-z/social-services/aging-and-adult-services/low-income-housing-relief-lihr">Durham Low Income Homeowners Relief Program</a><span class="normaltextrun">, and to establish a new Office of Survivor
Care, and a new Summer Camp Grant Fund.<span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Page also shared more about <a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/4593/Forever-Home-Durham">
Forever Home, Durham</a>, the City’s $160 million program to create affordable opportunities for renters and homeowners as well as to stabilize neighborhoods. Four affordable housing projects to be completed this fiscal year will add 468 units. Eight additional
projects will begin or be under construction next fiscal year adding another 943 units once completed.
<span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Page’s proposed spending plan includes funding to continue fare-free service for all
<a href="https://godurhamtransit.org/">GoDurham</a> riders through June 30, 2025. New funding is also included to support safety initiatives in the Transportation Department’s
<a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/2995/Vision-Zero">Vision Zero Durham program</a>, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The proposed CIP budget includes $232.1 million for new projects and to continue completing existing projects. Funding is included for $84.7 million in General Capital projects that were deemed a priority and essential to the City’s
capital infrastructure needs. More than 40 projects are included in the proposed CIP, such as
<a href="https://www.dprplaymore.org/516/Soil-Property-Testing">lead soil remediation in parks</a>, school zone speed reductions and trail crossing improvements, Guess Road improvements for safer bicycling,
<a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/3763/Neighborhood-Bike-Routes">neighborhood bike routes</a>, and bike lane vertical protection. There is an additional $147.4 million of CIP funding dedicated to Water and Sewer, Stormwater, and Solid Waste projects. The is
also $15 million to support annual ongoing maintenance of streets and sidewalks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A $2.66 monthly increase for Tier 2 <a href="https://cityordinances.durhamnc.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/WS-Published%20Attachment%20-%2016936%20-%20PRESENTATION%20-%203%20-%20FY%202025%20WATER%20AND%20SEW.pdf?meetingId=642&documentType=Agenda&itemId=37943&publishId=214062&isSection=false">
residential water and sewer customers</a>, and a $1.55 monthly increase for Tier 2
<a href="https://cityordinances.durhamnc.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/WS-Published%20Attachment%20-%2016921%20-%20PRESENTATION%20-%202%20-%20ATTACHMENT%20A%20-%20STORMWAT.pdf?meetingId=642&documentType=Agenda&itemId=37963&publishId=214097&isSection=false">
residential stormwater customers</a> are also included, which were approved during the City Council’s May 6 regular business meeting.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="eop">Page also shared that the City is moving ahead with the process to place a
</span><a href="https://cityordinances.durhamnc.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/WS-Published%20Attachment%20-%2016999%20-%20RESOLUTION%20-%202%20-%20RESOLUTION%20NOTICE%20OF%20INTE.pdf?meetingId=644&documentType=Agenda&itemId=38379&publishId=217033&isSection=false">$200
million General Obligation (GO) Bond</a><span class="eop"> on the ballot in November 2024. If the Local Government Commission approves, Durham voters will be asked to vote on two projects:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6"><span class="eop">Bond #1: $85 million for Durham Parks & Recreation’s
</span><a href="https://www.dprplaymore.org/496/Splash-Play-Project">Splash & Play Project</a><span class="eop">, which is the former Wheels Fun Park, Long Meadow, and East End Parks.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6"><span class="eop">Bond #2: $115 million for improving sidewalks and streets across the city.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="eop"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="eop">If approved by voters, the City will </span>
<a href="https://cityordinances.durhamnc.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/ViewDocument/WS-Published%20Attachment%20-%2016947%20-%20PRESENTATION%20-%202%20-%20GO%20BOND%20REFERENDUM%20PRES.pdf?meetingId=642&documentType=Agenda&itemId=37960&publishId=214064&isSection=false">issue
the bonds</a><span class="eop"> in two parts, starting in FY2025-2026. To cover the cost of the bonds, there may be a future tax rate increase of 2.95 to 3.45 cents, depending on interest rates at the time of the bond issuance. Page shared that using GO Bonds
is the most affordable way to fund these large construction projects because the City has a AAA-credit rating, which is the highest possible credit rating, enabling it to borrow money at the lowest interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="eop"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">City Council will review the proposed budget details at special work sessions on Wednesday, May 29, and Thursday,
May 30. These in-person work sessions will begin at 9 a.m. in the City Hall Committee Room and will be livestreamed to the City’s
</span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/CityofDurhamNC"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">YouTube channel</span></a><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> and
</span></span><a href="https://durham.granicus.com/player/camera/7?publish_id=542"=&redirect=true"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">website</span></a><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">A final budget
</span></span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=9083"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">public hearing</span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> is set
for Monday, June 3, at 7 p.m. with final budget approval on Monday, June 17, at 7 p.m. To review the entire proposed budget, visit the City’s Budget and Management Services Department </span></span><a href="https://durhamnc.gov/204/Budget-Development-Process"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">webpage</span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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