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Durham,
N.C.
– Durham,
N.C. – On
Monday, June 22, the Durham County Board of Commissioners approved an
operating budget that included reduced spending while maintaining
the
integrity of county services. The commissioners agreed that this budget
posed many unique challenges. The County’s overall budget is down 6.2%
from FY09 after pass-through funding is subtracted.
The
approved budget did not include any county service elimination, layoffs,
or furloughs. County employees received special commendation for their
assistance and support during the budget process. “No
one in this year’s process sacrificed the way they sacrificed. They
gave up their annual raises and longevity so their fellow employees would
have jobs. In spite of great sacrifice, we never heard a complaint
from one of them – a testimony to the quality of employees that we
have.”
County
departments received a 6.6% average reduction and Durham Public Schools
and Durham Technological Community College both received a 2.8% reduction.
The community
will benefit from the funding of 34 non-profit agencies that provide a
variety of services to the public. These agencies received $871,076, a
5.2%
reduction from FY09.
There
were a few fee increases. The recycling permit fee was increased only for
City residents who choose to purchase a county permits. This fee will
increase from $70 to $90.
The
Commissioners and Ruffin agreed that while this budget included many
reductions,
the FY 2009-10 budget ensures Durham county continues to meet the needs of
its citizens. “We stood together in a year that required great sacrifice,
sending a very strong message about how much we worked together to produce
a responsible budget,” County Manager Ruffin commented.
The new fiscal year begins
July 1.
Budget
Highlights
Durham
County Government
- 33.32
vacant full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be eliminated or
reduced
- No
employee layoffs or furloughs
- No
salary increases or longevity benefits for employees or administrators
- The
General Fund, after pass-through funding, decreased by 6.2%
Education
& Nonprofits
- 2.8%
reduction ($134,528)
for
Durham Technical Community College funding
- 2.8%
reduction ($2,921,076)
for Durham
Public Schools (DPS) funding
- 6.6%
average reduction for county-funded nonprofits
To view the Budget
Ordinance, visit the main page of Durham County’s
website. For additional information about the 2009-2010
Budget Ordinance, contact Deborah Craig-Ray, Assistant County Manager of
Public Information for the Durham County Manager’s Office, at
919-560-0000.
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