Regular Session

Mhm.

Mhm.

Good evening everyone. It is 7:00 on the dot and we're about to get started. Welcome to the Board of County Commissioners of the Durham County Board of Commissioners regular session. Today is March 23rd, 2026. I'll open this session with our public charge. The Board of Commissioners asks its members and residents to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner both with the Board and fellow residents. At any time should any member of the Board or any resident fail to observe this public charge, the chair will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control. Should decorum fail to be restored, the chair will recess the meeting until such a time uh such time that a genuine commitment to the public charge is observed. Commissioner Valentine, would you read the land acknowledgement?

Mr. Chair, thank you so much. But could I just take a moment of personal privilege?

Absolutely.

The chamber's full of a lot of people here today. And I just want to say thank you. When I look out and see so many unfamiliar faces, I think to myself, we have a community who is committed to change. So thank you for being with us here All right. So the [clears throat] land acknowledgement. As we convene for the Durham County Commissioners meeting, it's crucial to recognize the painful truth of history. We stand on the stolen ancestral lands of the Catawba, the Eno, Occaneechi, the Shakori, and the Tuscarora peoples whose deep connection to this land predates our arrival. We acknowledge with humility the unjust displacement displacement and violence

that occurred leading to the dispossession of indigenous peoples from their homelands. Their resilience in the face of such adversity is a testament to their strength and spirit. May we humbly honor the ancestors and elders of these nations both past and present by committing ourselves to fostering understanding, healing, and justice for all who inhabit this land. Let us walk forward together with open hearts, acknowledging the past and embracing a future guided by compassion, respect, and unity.

Thank you, Commissioner Valentine. Appreciate that. Uh Commissioner Burton, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Yes.

All right. Thank you very much, Commissioner Burton. Next item on our agenda is agenda adjustments. Are there any adjustments to the agenda? Seeing none, I accept them I'll accept a motion to approve the agenda as presented.

So moved.

Second.

It has been moved and properly seconded that we approve the agenda as presented. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please use the same sign. Passes unanimously. Unanimously. The next item on our on our agenda are the announcements. Uh Clerk Wallace.

Good evening, everyone. I will read the

announcements published in tonight's agenda. The next joint City-County Violence Reduction Learning Session will be held on Tuesday, March 24th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Holton Resource Center located at 401 North Driver Street. Leticia McNeal, Greensboro Director of Community Safety, will be the keynote speaker for the session. The initiative is jointly led by Durham County's Justice Services Department and Community Intervention and Support Services Department along with the city's Police Department and Community Safety Department. For additional information, you can visit www.durhamnc.gov. The public is invited to attend Durham County government's moderated virtual community conversation to hear directly from key county staff about operations and budget priorities on Monday, March 30th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The session will include a live Q&A. Registration information will be shared in the coming weeks and also posted on the county's website www.dconc.gov. Registration is now open for the 4-H summer camps. The Durham 4-H summer camps empower youth through meaningful conversations, hands-on experiences, and essential life skills that support their growth. A limited number of scholarships are available to cover costs. You can learn more and apply and there is a link um on the site. The deadline for registration is April 17th. Join Breastfeed Durham for a free community celebration on Saturday, May 2nd from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Hillside Park located at 1301 South Roxboro Street. The celebration brings families, health professionals, and local organizations together to support the well-being of pregnant families and young children. Well, also it will also include live entertainment, food trucks, community I'm sorry, children's activities, health

information, and community resources. Special guests include Freeline Pierce FreeLine, um Emmy award-winning producer and Durham native. He will join um and he will also do a live reading and performance featuring his books, Daddy Daughter Day and Daddy and Me Side by Side. For additional information, you can visit breathfeeddurham.org. Um measles can cause serious illness, especially in young children, adults over 20, pregnant individuals, and those who are immuno-compromised. Protect yourself and others by staying up-to-date on measles vaccination. As cases arise, now is the time to make sure you're vaccinated. Measles vaccines are available at the Durham County Public Health Immunization Clinic. You can contact 919-560-7608 for more information. Durham County is partnering with Durham Benefits Access Coalition to promote free and accessible tax filing options. You may qualify for valuable tax credits that help with housing, food, child care, and more. Households earning 89,000 or less can file online with chat, email support, or virtual assistance from IRS-certified preparers. It is important to note that tax refunds do not count against SNAP, WIC, SSI, Medicaid, Medicare, TANF, or other benefits. File by date is April 15th, and you can visit www.getyourrefund.org. Durham County has officially renamed the former Admin 2 building at 200 East Main Street as the William V. Bell building. A dedication ceremony was held on Friday, March 20th, celebrating the legacy of former commissioner and mayor William V. "Bill" Bell, whose decades of leadership and service has left a lasting impression on the community. I

have two additional announcements that were not included in tonight's um agenda. One is that Sheriff Birkhead has been invited to appear and testify on Wednesday, March 25th at the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing entitled Protecting American Citizenship to Federalism, Sanctuary Cities, and the Rule of Law. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. in room 226 at the Dirksen uh Senate Office Building located in Washington, D.C. And lastly, RDU Airport Authority will hold a public gift card donation drive during the government shutdown. Donations can be dropped off at the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 TSA supervisor podiums at the deck of the checkpoint or simply ask a supervisor or manager. 250 Food Lion gift cards were delivered to TSA on Friday, March 13th, which were donated by the Food Bank. That concludes the announcements in tonight's agenda.

Thank you Thank you, Clerk Wallace, and um I just wanted to echo the um William V. Bell building ceremony. It was spectacular. It was excellent, and it was well deserved. I just have to continue to um give praise to the staff that made it happen. It looked It went very, very smooth. And when something looks smooth and easy, that means someone behind the scene was working really hard to make it go smooth and easy. The building looks wonderful. The letters on the building, on the sign is just uh wonderful. Everything involved went great, and so I just want to lift up the staff again um for all the prep they gave to me, you know, to to host it, but also everything that they did to make it happen. It was

just wonderful. I just want to lift them up for that. Um, Commissioner Allam.

Thank you, Chair Lee. Um, yes, I've seen pictures out. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the naming cuz it was our Eid holiday, but want to echo the sentiments from the staff. I saw like a few days before when I was walking on Main Street. I was like, "Oh, what are they doing?" They're pulling out all these letters and um, new construction, but it was really great to see it even in the process, the amount of effort that went into it, even the manual labor that the staff also put in um, to the renaming, but also Manager Hager, I heard you did an amazing job as MC in keeping the whole program and our Chair Lee MC and uh, Manager Hager speaking and Commissioner Valentine. Um, I also had two additional announcements I wanted to share that uh, I know that there's a lot of fear in the community right now with the government shutdown about increased presence of ICE in multiple airports. Uh, I saw several people posting wondering if, you know, if RDU is one of the airports. RDU is not listed on the one on the current list of airports where ICE is going to be, you know, present to step in in the place of the TSA um, shortages due to the government funding shutdown. So, wanted to ease, hopefully, and keep that ease for folks that we don't have that presence of ICE in our airport. And also, if unfortunately, there is still ICE presence in areas that if you guys see ICE or think you see ICE, um, it's important to reach out to community organizations like Siembra North Carolina that are doing verification. Uh, you can call or text them at 336-543-0353. And it's important to reach out to them and have them conduct a proper verification so that we don't, you know, start uh fear and instill fear in our community members with unverified sightings. Um so, that's one thing and then also with this increased threat of

ICE presence, our immigrant communities, unfortunately, this leads to a lot of community members feeling unsafe uh to even leave their homes, to drop off their kids to school, to go grocery shopping. Um so, I would urge everyone to support uh the the drive that's happening at RDU Airport, but also we have here in Durham and Durham County our Welcome Baby program, which is out of the cooperative extension that collects uh groceries, uh formula, um baby clothes, all sorts of supplies and uh things that can help our all of our families here in Durham County, but especially our immigrant community members who may be more um fearful of leaving and going out into, you know, grocery stores and public spaces. So, I would urge everyone, if you have the resources, I've even donated things uh from my pregnancy that I'm not using anymore that they actually are able to use um and have different sanitation tools and resources that a lot of things, if they're in good condition, you can donate and uh another family can make good use of it. Thank you.

All right, thank you, Commissioner Burton.

Thank you, Chair Lee. Um and I'm glad that um Clark Wallace mentioned about TSA and about the um gift cards that are being donated because a lot of people um in our wider community don't realize they haven't been paid for over a month and they have to continue to work because they're consensual considered essential. And many people have been reading about now they're ICE agents. They're not at RDU like Vice Chair Lom said, but however, really concerned about people working without getting any pay. So, just want to lift that up. I'm definitely going to go out to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and give some gift cards so people can at least get some food, get some gas in their cars because gas is really expensive. But on a brighter note, I just want to shout out um the branch [clears throat] manager at

Bracktown um branch library. I was there last week and I hadn't been there in a number of years and it's just a gem in the Bracktown community with the history. Um it opened in 1964 um with the um it was part of the Durham Colored Library system and then it got merged in um into the wider Durham County Library system and it's just a really great resource in our community. I really enjoyed being there and I told the branch manager, Ms. Brown, that I would shout them out while I was on the dais and they're open from 10:00 to 6:00 Monday through Friday. So, if you want to go out there and just see their wonderful collection, their wonderful collection of children's books, go go and see it. So, thank you so much.

Commissioner Jacobs.

Thank you. Um I just first of all wanted to add to the announcement about people being able to get help with their taxes at um the main library. Um and there's also uh will be in our announcements how you can get help locally. This is an effort um that is happening in Durham to make sure that people have access to all the benefits that they are eligible for and uh Council member Wrist is is one of the folks who is helping to lead that effort and he wanted me to mention uh to remind parents that when you are filing your taxes this year, if you are a parent of a newborn child who has been born since January 1st, 2025, you can register to receive a one-time $1,000 deposit in a what's called a 529 or the Trump account. Um and that kids

born after January 1st, 2025, but 10 years old or younger, so if you have a child at home who is older, 10 years old or younger, um you may also qualify for a $250 deposit in a 529 account. And after your children um turn 18 years of age, these funds can be used for education, homeownership, or a business startup. So, we are locally trying to get the word out about the 529 accounts, or otherwise known as the Trump accounts, to parents when they are filing taxes this year. Um also want to highlight just a few things that were um not in our announcements, but are in the Durham County newsletter, and um if you do not subscribe to the newsletter, I really encourage you. It is chock-full of great information um that the county manager puts out every week. Um and you can go to the Durham County website to sign up, but some of the things related to children and getting kids um engaged in activities for the summer, we know that's one of the most important things we heard in the announcements about the 4-H camps. We also have um highlighted Kids Voting Durham through our cooperative extension is having a Kids Voting Durham internship for youth ages 14 to 24. We also have sign-ups for the Durham Pre-K right now um that are open. Um that is uh if you can find that also on the Durham County website.

Also Sun Bucks, the Sun Bucks program is um the deadline is March 31st. This is really important for all school-aged children to get food during the summer. Uh so please uh look into that if you have not if you have school-aged children and you have not signed up for that. Um and then lastly, another great opportunity for high school students at NC State is um the North Carolina Resource Conservation Workshop. Thank you.

Uh thank you, Commissioner Jacobs. Uh Commissioner Valentine.

Uh yes, uh Chair, I will end our remarks uh where we started um saying congratulations to our mayor for life uh Mayor Bell. And thank you to the community. Uh the the reason that uh the naming occurred was because of the push from the community. And so, I want to say thank you to the community for showing up in large numbers to recognize uh Mayor Bell. And I want to read reiterate some comments that you made about our staff. General Services, Engineering the manager and absolutely everyone who played a part in the ceremony. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and uh uh Cheryl Lee, you did with class. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Valentine. Okay. The next item on our agenda, we're moving into ceremonial items. The first um the first is a resolution recognizing 25 years of farmland protection in Durham County. We do have a resolution. Uh Commissioner Jacobs is going to read it and I believe we have

uh pe- we have some people in our audience related to this. And so, we'll um have you come speak after the resolution um has been read. I'll turn it over to you, Commissioner Jacobs.

Thank you. It is my honor to read this resolution. 25 years of Durham County's commitment to farmland preservation. Whereas Durham County recognizes farmland as essential for local food production, water quality, wildlife habitat, and the rural land- landscapes that define the community. And whereas preserving farmland supports a resilient food system, sound agricultural practices, and access to healthy, locally grown food for future generations. And whereas the county's farmland preservation efforts began in 2001 with the Herndon family's first conservation easement establishing a model of voluntary conservation. And whereas 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of this work, during which the county has completed 30 easements protecting 2,491 acres and ensuring the viability of 20 family farms. And whereas these efforts strengthen the agricultural economy, support farmers, and enhance environmental resilience by maintaining open space and protecting natural resources. And whereas strong fiscal partnerships, especially with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, have enabled the county to secure $6.28 million in grants,

$5.14 in landowner donations, and invest $3.58 to protect easements valued at $15 million. And whereas the program continues to grow with five additional farms totaling farms and $706,000 in I'm I'm sorry. acres, not farms. Um and 706 I wish 137 farms. And $706,000 in secured funding scheduled to close soon. And whereas Durham County remains committed to advancing farmland preservation through strategic partnerships, innovative policies, and voluntary conservation programs. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Durham County Board of Commissioners celebrates 25 years of farmland preservation leadership, expresses gratitude to landowners, partners, and fiscal supporters, reaffirms its commitment to protecting farmland as a foundation of the county's economy, environment, and heritage, and commits to expanding preservation efforts and supporting the next generation of farmers. This, the 23rd day of March, 2026. Dr. Mike Lee, chair. Nida Allam, vice chair. Michelle Burton, commissioner. Wendy Jacobs, commissioner. Steven Valentine, commissioner.

Thank you, Commissioner Jacobs.

Wonderful. Um I'm Nicole Conley. I'm chair of the Durham County Farmland Preservation Board, and I just wanted to say a few thank yous. First of all, thank you to

this board for this resolution and for your ongoing support and commitment to preserving farmland in Durham County and to supporting agriculture and the work that we do at large. We are really grateful and recognize that we are um really blessed to have a board that is so supportive. Um I would like to thank all of the Farmland Board members, past and present, who have been part of making this program successful um and and helping to preserve farmland. Um and most im- most well, all important, but importantly as well, I would like to thank members of our Open Space Board who have been the real architects and um horsepower behind making this happen. Um Jane Corso, who over the years um worked tirelessly to build this program and help Durham County frankly be a leader in the state in the conservation of farmland. Um I'd like to thank um Celeste Burns, who will speak here in a moment, and and Jill Fousco as well for their ongoing work that they do here. Um and then now most importantly, I'd like to thank the landowners who have made the commitment to protect their farmland so that future generations in Durham County have a place to farm. We're so grateful. Thank you.

Could you please stand? Could the farmers Could they stand?

Yeah, that would be

Yeah, please stand.

Can we get the farmland owners um who are part of the conservation easement to stand? So we can thank you.

[applause] [applause]

I'm going to hand it over to Celeste.

I thank Thank you for letting me take a few few moments here. This is um This is a This work that I'm very passionate about. I'm Celeste Burns, Open Space and Real Estate manager. Um

again, thank you to the Board of County Commissioners now and in the past. Thank you to the Farmland Preservation Board. Without their um understanding and uh of of agricultural history and future, it's their their work is really critical. Um it's great to work with Sherry and Lisa alongside that board. I'm really appreciative of that. Want to shout out our Open Space and Real Estate team who um really help make the nuts and bolts of these complicated projects fit together. Um and again, I do want to acknowledge Jane Corliss. She wanted to be here tonight, but is out of town um retired and her enjoying her retirement, but she really laid the foundation for this work, worked with so many of y'all, and um over the years and uh is really kind of uh her foundation is why we can do this. Um we have some guest stars in the audience. I want to recognize USDA partners with Natural Resource Conservation Service. Would y'all stand up? Brian Loadholt and Julius George are assistant state conservationists. Thank you. with Without that partnership, this this work would be really difficult. And um their guidance and patience um and good sense of humor through lots of bureaucracy, we are making this happen and I'm so grateful to be able to work with you. Um and last but not least, I want to acknowledge our landowners. There are many who aren't with us anymore, and I want to um think about them. And um there are people who um weren't able to make it here tonight. And then we've got this lovely group of people who came out on a Monday night to to recognize I really appreciate that. Um your uh I really thank you for your commitment, your vision, your generosity, your patience. I mean, you're protecting

farmland and natural resources and soils, but you're really protecting something that we don't even see in the future. With the future generation, it's truly my pleasure and privilege to work with you all. And um thank you.

[applause]

I'm going to make sure all of our landowners get a copy of this signed if that's possible.

Absolutely. Absolutely. We'll make sure that happens.

so much.

Cool. So, we're going to do Commissioner comments, and then we're going to invite everyone down, and we'll take a picture with the resolution right here in the front, okay? Uh Commissioner Jacobs.

Well, thank you um for your words um Celeste and Nicole. Um I also wanted to recognize um our all of our open space and real estate staff that are here, our soil and water staff that are here, our farmland board members, and our cooperative extension staff. Could you all please stand as well? Everyone who's here.

[applause]

This is truly about teamwork and partnership in Durham County. And I And also, I am so grateful to each of the farmers and landowners who are here. As Celeste said, thanks to your generosity, the gift that you are giving to our entire community for generations to come. You really are leaving a legacy, you and your families, and we are so grateful to you. Um and I think it's fitting that I think it was at our last meeting that we talked about um the farm campus that we are launching, Durham County's

farm campus, and being able to We got a grant to hire a director, and that really demonstrates the commitment that we have in Durham County to protecting our soil, our water, our air, and also our soil for for food, for healthy local food. So, thank you again to everyone for making this possible, this 25th celebration. Thank you.

Commissioner Lawson.

Thank you, Chair Lee. Thank you so much uh to the Farmland Conservation Board, to all our farmland owners, for you all for creating the food that gives us sustenance. Uh so often we just walk into the grocery store and we kind of just take for granted. We pick up our groceries and keep moving on with our lives and don't think about how much hard work and dedication goes in not just to grow those particular crops and those fruits and vegetables and food, but also when it's not season, the way the you all have to work the land to make sure that it's ready. And I think it's important for us to recognize this not only for farmland conservation cuz I know that the resolution commission recognizes like the positives of it, but also just recognizing what we've lost that like over the last decade, I think it's like nearly 20% of farmland in Durham County has been lost. That in North Carolina over 8 million acres of farmland has been lost of farm owners just not sometimes not able to sustain the business because of climate change impacts of shorter seasons, the way that droughts and flooding impacts, um this all's ability to be able to grow the fruits and vegetables that we need. Um so I think it's really important and I'm glad that we have this opportunity to recognize our farmland owners and also people may forget that we have farm owners in Durham County cuz they think of us as like a more urban hub, um

an urban center, but no, we have a lot of folks that are producing so many things that we need not just for us, but for future generations to come. And for our residents and neighbors to recognize the importance of farmland recognition, but also when you go out and buy your groceries, look at the label sometimes and try to buy from local farms as much as you can. Go to your farmers market, go to your local markets that you see that it's like this is a North Carolina farm and support our local farmers in that way as well. Okay.

All right. Thank you, Vice Chair Lanum. Uh um Commissioner Burton.

Yeah, I just want to say, um this is one of the boards that I serve on and it's been a pleasure being on being the liaison to the Farmland Protection Board. I have learned a lot about easements. I've learned a lot about voluntary protection of farms since I've been on there. It's been a great pleasure and I'm looking forward to continue to serve and I learned a lot. There was a farmers breakfast and an attorney from NC State came and I learned a lot about farm law. Like that was just like wow, to think about all the things that farmers and growers have to think about with their farms. So it's been such a pleasure being on being the liaison to the Farmland Protection Board and thank you for all that you do making sure that farmland is protected here in Durham County.

Commissioner Valentine.

Yes, thank you chair. First let me just say thank you to the the Farmland Board for the work that you do in this community. And again to all of our partners in this work. And more specially to our landowners. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being so gracious.

Thank you for the hard work that you put in when no one's looking. Being the grandson of a farmer, Ms. Carrington asked me earlier did I farm? No, but I'm the grandson of a a performer. And so thank you for what you do each and every day and I'll end my comments by saying thank you to our partners from the federal government. With the Department of Agriculture, we couldn't do without you. Thank you.

Vice Chair Alston.

Yes, I just wanted to add a quick thing. I hope that we're going to bring back the farm campus tour again where we all hopped on a bus and got to tour our local farms across Durham County. That was a really great way for me last board to I didn't even know there was a blueberry farm right by my house that now my family goes and buys ice cream from. So, I would love for us to be able to revamp that as well.

All right. Thank you very much. Oh, so we're going to take a picture. We'll go ahead and take a picture and we'll move forward.

This is The picture is for everyone. If you're part of the cooperative extension, farmland owner, USDA, everyone come for the picture.

Okay, good. Okay, we're good. We may have to You know that Know that someone's hair, head, shoulders blocking your face at all. You can't get like a real clear reading. All right, let's do it. Then we can see in the photo. I think there's one in the park right now. All right. We're going to try from here. Okay. I think we're Yeah. Everyone stay where you are right Can we see everyone's faces? All right. All right, are you ready? All right, breathe. Two. Three. One.

All right. That is excellent excellent. Thank you all. Congratulations again. All right, if the uh if my fellow commissioners would grant me a uh just a moment. I need we need to step backwards in the agenda to approve the minutes. I skipped right over it cuz I was so excited about the proclamation. So, I'll accept a motion to approve the our uh Board of Commissioners meet meeting minutes for February 2nd, 2026.

Um Chair, I just I want I'll make a motion to I did have one question related to the minutes.

Okay. there are a lot of directives in these minutes and it occurred to me that I don't know what we what our current system is for actually following up on tracking directives.

So, we track the directives so we can make sure at the next work session that we give the updated list to the board.

Okay. That would be great. Thank you. So, I would entertain a motion um to approve the minutes from the February 2nd, 2026 work session.

Well, that's her making the motion, by the way. Not entertaining it.

What did I say?

You said entertain.

Oh, sorry.

She She We'll accept that as the motion.

Yes, I think that

[laughter]

Second?

I would make a motion.

Second.

It's been moved and properly seconded that we approve the meeting minutes for February 2nd, 2026. Any further discussion? All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please use the same sign. The meetings have um been approved unanimously. Okay, so we have a couple of resolutions. I believe there's a couple of them. Um that we're going to just make note of and we'll have

um those come to speak. So, the next one The these are to be acknowledged. So, the proclamation for National County Government Month 2026. Is anybody going to speak on that? Okay.

Yes, ma'am. Good evening, Deborah.

Good evening, Chair Lee and Commissioners. I'm Deborah Craig Ray, Chief Communications Officer, and I want to thank you for recognizing National County Government Month. Um certainly, this is an activity from the National Association of Counties that began in 1991. The goal was to recognize our 3,069 counties. Um the goal is to educate the community about what counties do for them. And certainly, the next objective is to honor our employees who work day in and day out to provide the services. And finally, the goal is to increase civic participation, to have the community attend meetings and take note of the great things that we're doing um in the community. And so, that's sort of the background of National County Government Month. Um I'm going to just mention just a couple of small things that we are working on and I'm joined by doing Dudley of my staff and Dr. Brent Lewis of uh human resources. We are working as a team this year to provide um observance of National County Government Month. Weekly you'll notice that we highlight a bit of Durham County's history, facilities and special programs or projects on our social media platforms and internal channels. Among the events that we will host for the community will be a nature walk led by our open space division, a hybrid public artwork uh art walk and what counties do session with local college students. Beginning April 1st, you'll be able to

watch a segment of In Touch dedicated to National County Government Month and tomorrow our PIO team will record a session of our DECO talk session featuring North Carolina Collection Manager Lauren Penny who will discuss the history of Durham and Durham County Government. So that's just a few things that we're doing but again, our goal is to celebrate all month and thank you as always for your support.

Thank you very much for that. Uh Ms. Craig Ring. All right, the next proclamation that we Oh, I'm sorry. We will speak on it. I'm sorry.

a comment. Thank you Deborah um for highlighting um National County Government Month. Um I think that this um is more important than ever uh because honestly what is happening um in our country right now and what is happening at the federal government that we are all feeling it here the most at the county level. Um I read over the um NACO National Association of County Officials newspaper last night and it was interesting to me they had were recounting um speeches from people who were in the federal government, who were in the cabinet, head of different um departments uh speaking at that conference and over and over again they would say "Well, you you know, you at the county level, you're the ones who are closest to the people. Um you're where the work really happens." And that is absolutely true. The problem is right now is that we are being um really left on our own without the support from our federal

government. And in a state like North Carolina where we have we're the only state that hasn't had an approved budget. Um so I just think it's I want to highlight at this moment in time that we are local county government, we are the government that is day in and day out our employees, our staff who are taking care of people in our community, and it is just very challenging right now. Um and we are also the forefront of we are the front line of democracy. Um when it comes you know, running elections, um things like that. It's all here at the county level. So I I want to just I hope that we'll talk more about that um during this month and also to highlight what is happening at the state level right now. There may be a constitutional amendment uh on our ballots here in North Carolina coming up in the fall election that could be very frightening to limit the power of local governments at the county level to have control over property taxes. And unfortunately, that is one of the only tools that we have to pay for the services we provide. And it's estimated, um, that between 70 and 75% of our services go to mandated state and federal programs and services. So, if we don't have the money to pay for those required services, like law enforcement, like our sheriff, like our EMS, like, uh, fire, responding to fires, things like that, and of course the many other things we do, um, it is going to be very, very difficult. So, I I just wanted to take a moment, really, to highlight

[laughter]

this important issue. Thank you.

Okay, any other comments? All right. Thank you. The next The next proclamation we will acknowledge is a proclamation for Second Chance Month 2026.

Good evening. I'm Robin Heaf. I'm the assistant director of the Justice Services Department. And I want to start by thanking you guys, um, the um, board for your steadfast support of Second Chance efforts and of valuing all of our citizens, even those that are justice involved. This month we have, um, a number of different activities that are planned, and Rashida will share with our calendar, um, to celebrate and recognize the, um, challenges of those that are justice involved. We're going to kick off the month. I hope everyone will have a chance to come through our parking lot. Uh cuz we're going to kind of chalk it up and um you just really try to start raising awareness in you know, with some sidewalk chalk and some artistic abilities of some previous clients and current clients and J S C staff all um just to start raising that awareness and the second week of the month um we have our jail transition staff as well as our local re-entry council staff will attend a um state conference in Raleigh with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections and um I was at a meeting last week with um the North Carolina joint re-entry commission and they um were really talking a lot about the re-entry 2030 and how far along North Carolina is in um you know, just moving forward on justice involvement and making second chances a a reality. Um so, we're excited to see

that um North Carolina is moving forward, but Durham has always been at the forefront of that in in North Carolina. The third week we're going to be um partnering with public health to um do a balanced bites where we're going to offer um information about hypertension and diabetes and do a um nutritious cooking class. And on the 21st, we will have a re-entry and reconnection. Um that'll be a panel and resource fair for families who are having people come back from from incarceration. Um this will be the first time we have done this, um but we have definitely found a need that families need to know how to support their loved ones as they come home. And we're going to kind of close out our month on the 24th um with a sock hop. Um So, we hope everybody can join us on that. We want to have some fun. The admission cost is a pair of socks that will be used for our clients or $5 value in hygiene products. These are items that we use a lot and we we find our clients are consistently in need of these things and so we thought this would be a way to, you know, raise some supplies and have some fun. There will be food trucks in the parking lot. And um there we've got some door prizes that have been donated and we will have um awards for best dancer and that best retro costume or outfit. So. Looking forward to everybody.

All right. Thank you very much. Uh commissioner comments. Oh. Um Uh Vice Chair Alston.

Yes, I just want to um shout out the uh Justice Resource Center's center and office for all the work that y'all do um to support our justice-involved residents and our neighbors who are

trying to get back on their feet and support their families and live their lives like all of us are. And so, thank you so much for the work that you put in and all the ways that you also support families before um they become justice-involved as well to make sure that we are able to prevent and have that intervention opportunity uh to support all of our Durham residents and also the ways um I know it's not it's listed somewhat here with like the family events, but I think it's also important to recognize the work that the Justice Resource Center does with young people whose families and parents may be justice-involved and to support the uh kids here in Durham County's community to make sure that they're taken care of and still feel the love and care of the broader Durham community and so that they don't get left behind in any way. So, really grateful for the work you all do because it truly comes from the heart. Um and also, you know, Sheriff Birkhead is here. Thank you to Sheriff Birkhead and his team for the efforts and work that they do within the jail of providing services and programming through continued education, through MAT, to help our residents get back on their feet when they reenter into the community.

Commissioner Valentine.

Yes, thank you, chair. So, thank you for highlighting uh the need for a second chance. And it's not uh just this month, but it's every day. Uh when individuals leave our community, it's important that they reenter. Reenter for a spouse who may have gone without a loved one. Reentry for family that potentially has lost an income. For community. And so, uh when we talk about second chances, we're talking about our neighbors. Just today I had an opportunity to talk to a a young man who was um doing work in my home, and this subject actually came up. And he said, "Valentine, you're a commissioner, aren't you?" He said, "What are you doing about uh

people who are reentering into our society um from prison, and they need access to a job? And they need access to services." And so, we we talked for about an hour as he was uh doing some work in my home um about this very subject. And so, um although we're celebrating it this month, in fact, it's every day that we should be concerned about reintegrating um people back into our community. And so, thank you for the work that you do in this space.

Commissioner Burton.

Yeah, I just want to echo what my colleagues have said. Thank you for doing this work. Um I'm reading a book right now talking about gun violence and that a lot of between the ages of 18 and 30 is the ages where most people, young people are affected by gun violence, right? And in many instances, it's like a split-second decision, right? It's in a heat-of-the-moment. It's not premeditated. And so as they are unfortunately incarcerated, and they get out, they're like, "Okay, why did I do this?" You know, they're mature, they're they're grown, and things like that. And yeah, they need a second chance because if they could go back, they wouldn't have done it. So I We appreciate the work that you're doing, and I'm going to make sure to bring some toiletries because um I know that's something that people definitely need. As a former educator, that's something that we had to provide a lot to our young people. So thank you so much.

And in my haste, I forgot to introduce our new local Reentry Council Coordinator, Rashida Royster, who's standing here beside me. But she is she's the one, you know, doing the work every day. So I just want to recognize her here.

Commissioner Jacobs.

Thank you, Rashida. Um I also want to just lift up the our Justice Services Department, and our We have our director right here, Rashonda Humphreys. And also the our Justice Resource Center, Durham County has been a national model, a national leader in this work. And I want to lift up the meaning of Second Chance Month. People will come back to our community and we want to make sure that they are productive members of our our society and also with their family. We want to give them the support and set them up for success. So, thank you to the re-entry council for what you do. I I want to emphasize that Durham County is a second chance employer. And we practice follow the practices of ban on the box with our employment practices and I we want to encourage all employers in Durham to be second chance employers. And recently Duke University announced a new initiative around jobs and workforce development and they have committed to hiring more people who are re-entering and who are justice involved. So, I want to applaud our biggest employer in Durham County, Duke University, for doing this. And Mershana, are they working with you on that? Is What Could we have you come and comment? I see Andy [clears throat] back there, too.

I apologize. I tried to give the staff the spotlight tonight. Um but yes, um we have been working with Duke, Andy Miracle and my staff. We have been appointed to Duke's Economic Mobility Council. The council is working

on strategies to um promote employment across sectors. They have a a whole plan that's being laid out. But in addition to that, we were visited at Justice Services Department about 2 weeks ago from four senior um human resource executives from Duke to um talk about a pilot project with us to help to bring um justice involved individuals into um jobs at Duke. And so we are working with that group to try to figure out what that pilot will look like and how individuals that are working with us and enrolled in our programs can then go into that pilot program. So we're excited about working with them because we have been trying to get our clients into Duke for many many years and so we are we can't be more happy that they reached out to us and and have come to visit. They wanted to see our operation. It was a great visit.

Anything very motivated to move forward with this project.

This is fantastic news. Thank you Andy and Roshana for helping to make this possible. This is an incredible opportunity for people in our community. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your support.

And thank you all for this important work. Very very important work. So thank you.

Thank you.

And welcome.

Okay, and our last um proclamation for acknowledgement tonight is the proclamation for Fair Housing Month. Yeah, there we are.

Oh, okay. Good evening. Um thank you all for having us tonight. Um my name is Sandra Trice Jones. I'm the president at the Durham Regional Association of Realtors.

And I'd like to acknowledge our DEI chair, Sharon Sankoh, who usually does this. Who said in her big pocketbook she doesn't have her readers, so I have to come up here. I know she's telling a story. So, um again, on behalf of the Durham Regional Association of Realtors, we are honored to receive this Fair Housing Proclamation from your board. Yeah, fair housing is about access, equity, and ensuring everyone has a fair chance at home ownership. And we work to do this every day, so I want to thank you all for acknowledging us again this year. Thanks.

And thank you so much. Are there commissioner comments on the proclamation acknowledgement? Commissioner Valentine.

Okay. Oh, this thank you for bringing forward this resolution. Um I think as we continue to see, you know, housing prices go up and our community members being pushed out, this is really important conversation we need to continue to keep at the forefront even um I know I told Chair Lee I was in uh New York this weekend and was traveling around with a friend who's a community organizer there and through home women just learning about what's happening there that I'm sure is like happening all across the country. Thankfully not here in Durham yet, but of um public housing communities, these corporations that are coming in to try to privatize and purchase all of these properties to make it harder and harder uh for low-income communities, uh middle-class income uh families to be able to buy a home, so we appreciate the work that you all are doing to make sure that housing is equitable uh and bringing this forward to us to help recognize. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair Elam. Uh Commissioner Valentine.

Chair, thank you. Madam President, uh thank you being with for being with us uh here uh this evening. So, the Fair

Housing Act, as you know, is is very important, particularly in the African-American community. And so, it's one of the trifecta. 1964 passage of Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and in 1968, following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Fair Housing Act that was passed. And so, it's not lost on me that many in our community still are denied access to very important part of the our existence, and that's housing. And so, the work that you do every day is important. And so, I want to thank you. And I also want to thank you for appearing here today. And I too have readers that I need. Thank you.

All right. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I appreciate it. Okay, and that is our ceremonial items for tonight. The next item on our agenda is approval of the consent agenda. There are a few items on the consent agenda, and they've been vetted. We've talked about them in our work session. Um um with the staff. And so, I will accept a motion to approve the consent agenda.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and properly seconded that we approve the consent agenda. Any further discussion on any of the items? All right, hearing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please use the same sign. The consent agenda passes unanimously. Next item on our agenda are public hearings. Um I think we have one. Yep. We have one public hearing, and this is a public hearing to consider an economic development agreement with Welcome Venture Park LLC. Um Matt.

Yes, sir. Good evening.

[clears throat]

My name is Matthew Filter. I'm the

Economic Development Manager for Durham County. Uh tonight we're holding a public hearing to consider an economic development agreement with Welcome Venture Park LLC. Uh this is honestly just a really uh unique partnership that the county, particularly economic development and transportation, um has undertaken with Welcome Venture Park. And I'd like to um recognize Randy Warren, who's in the audience. Uh he's a representative from the company who's here tonight. Uh so I just want to spend just a minute or two just kind of presenting the highlights of what this um agreement would be, pending your approval. Uh the agreement to be negotiated and executed by the county manager would include three parts. One, it would be a reimbursement payment from the county to the company of $1 million following satisfactory completion of sewer utility infrastructure necessary to enhance the business prospects of the county. The next piece would be a real estate option uh given to us for $1 uh permitting uh future acquisition of 1420 Old Oxford Road for a sales price of $1 million uh following a due diligence period, after which we could decide whether or not we wanted to purchase the property. Um and then a community benefits package uh including community commitments uh to internships and workforce development programming. Um for background, Welcome Venture Park is a 157-acre industrial and business park in North Durham along Hamlin Road. Construction is ongoing. It's occurring in three phases, and upon completion, it's estimated the site will collectively produce approximately $270 million in new taxable uh value and support 300 or more new jobs. Uh both phase one and two, it's being done in multiple phases, have adequate utility capacity, uh but the third phase does not have adequate sewer capacity. Uh the cost of those upgrades is about $2.7 million. The county's being asked to contribute $1 million towards this project, which would only be paid out upon satisfactory completion of the sewer upgrades. Upon build-out and

occupancy of phase three, it's estimated that phase three alone would contribute $6 million in new tax revenue to the county over 10 years. Uh the county's willingness to consider financial support for this project is directly linked to the fact that the county also um is interested in an undeveloped parcel that the company owns adjacent to the future Durham Roxboro Rail Trail. Uh the Rail Trail plan, approved by the board last year, determined that this general location was ideal for a future trailhead. So, preliminarily, the parcel that we're considering acquiring could include restrooms, parking, open space, other rail-related programming as that materializes down the road. So, to that end, um they're going to grant us a 6-month option for $1, after which we can either decide to purchase the property for that purpose or not. Uh the market value, as assessed by Analytical Consultants, was about to be $1.1 million. The parcel is otherwise not for sale and was intended to be used by the company. So, this is something we worked with them uh to negotiate on. It's not out there for sale to just anyone. Uh the most important issue to be studied and resolved during the due diligence period is environmental testing. Uh currently, this site and several others in the area are considered brownfields, uh but we don't really have a lot of detailed testing on this particular small parcel alone. So, key part of our due diligence period will just be um working with our state um state partners at DEQ and the developer and our internal folks to determine if it's an appropriate usage of the property. Then, at the end of the the due diligence period, we could either buy it or not buy it. Lastly, real quick, uh we don't historically um negotiate community partnerships for real estate deals at the county typically, is my understanding, or for sewer um reimbursement projects, but um we thought it was important to ask, and Welcome Venture Park was a willing willing partner. Uh so they're going to be offering one paid internship annually uh to a student

at Central or Durham Tech. They're going to work with this on local hiring and workforce development initiatives with DPS to the tenants in the park um and they're going to facilitate introductions to the different tenants and the owners there uh to uh work with uh the county on possible workforce development uh partnerships and opportunities. So I'll stop there. Um happy to answer any questions you may have.

All right. So this this is the um um This is our public hearing, which is open by the way. I don't think I said those words, but we're open. Um we'll have questions from the commissioners. Okay. Hearing none and we have no public comments uh signed up for this particular item. This uh public comment I mean public hearing. I will now close the public hearing and we'll have comments from the Uh Com- Commissioner Jacobs.

Um Thank you. Um I just have I have a question. Could you tell us about um what some of the current companies are, who are there, and the types of jobs they have, and what are um I guess you're in phase one and two now, but phase three um or I don't know if you want to share that. Um but just curious about what are who is there now and and what do you project will be there in the future in terms of the types of jobs?

Randy, would you like to come up and talk about that?

Um and you know, just how many companies are there and how many employees Um we're familiar with the Treyburn Industrial Park and also RTP, but we this will be our first partnership with the Venture Park.

Good evening. Excuse me, I [clears throat] I to get out of it, Matthew. You couldn't keep me there. Um thank you. My name is Randy Warren. I'm with RW2 Development Company. We're the owner's representative for the Welcome Group, who is the developer of Welcome Venture Park. Um to answer your

question directly, in phase one, uh our tenant mix is is varied. We have some local uh home improvement type uh tenants, uh smaller tenants. We have mobile communications local tenant that uh services the local community. Um we have a local Durham Transfer and Storage Company that is relocating within our phase one. Also, we have a new tenant to the market, to not only North Carolina, but and not only Durham, but also the state of North Carolina, Cavalier Logistics. They service the uh biopharmaceutical companies that are so predominantly located in RTP. Um so, this is their first location here in North Carolina, we're talking to them about a second location at Welcome Venture Park um because of its proximity. Uh also, Durham uh or sorry, uh Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina, the Durham location, just opened. Um they haven't We are going to have a grand opening, and hopefully um many of you will be able to come and attend that in the month of April. Uh but, they've taken about 65,000 square feet um and have started to process and distribute take in food and distribute food out of that location. They're not completely ramped up to their full scale, but they're getting there. We're excited about that. Uh as far as the jobs that are in phase one, we are probably somewhere over and I sorry, I don't know this right off the top of my head, but somewhere over 55 to 60 full-time day jobs there. Uh and they range from That doesn't include Let me take Food Bank separately, because they have probably 50 or 60 volunteers a day coming through their facility that uh that help uh uh facilitate their food distribution. Uh but within our park, they range from warehouse workers, office staff, uh professional in scientists in the Cavalier Logistics um um

facilities. And we're also talking with other entertainment uh or sports-related entertainment type uses for our phase one which um they're they're considering the location. Primarily because of the growth of the residential and the service that market in the in the north Durham Roxboro area. Did I answer your question?

Yes, thanks. I mean, it's it's great to hear about smaller businesses because, you know, typically um in RTP and Treyburn, they're they're bigger companies. They're national. And the fact that this park can serve some smaller businesses and of course still diversity. Sounds with the biopharma, part of the whole supply chain kind of pipeline around biopharma, which is great. And even the home improvement um you know, we're looking at in Durham Tech um trying to focus on skilled trades. So, you know, that's even a potential internship right there. But um uh anyway, we're we're happy to partner with you um and um we consider, you know, things like internships and building uh workforce development pipeline with you all is one of the things that's one of our priorities as a board. And we recognize that you have to build these partnerships and these relationships. They don't just happen. So, we're looking forward to partnering with you.

Thank you for that. I will point out that we have been a partnership with Durham Tech through a scholarship fund that we contributed early on in the project uh specifically focusing the Bright Town community and the students there. Last year I had a chance to attend the first scholarship breakfast at Durham Tech and met the first recipient recipient recipient of the scholarship and this year I plan to go again in April with this will be the second student that this fund has

has promoted through Durham Tech and we've been working with with that group and we're excited about the internship opportunities that present themselves as we move forward. We talked about the full-time employment. I would just like to point out that currently in just phase two which is about half the size of phase one, we probably have 150 to 200 daily construction employees on site and that was true for phase one and will continue. We estimate that through the life of the construction project project will have over 3,000 employed construction employees visit and spend time with the project as well. So

Thank you.

And I also want to just thank our staff for making this possible and the creativity. Ellen sitting over there our transportation director being able to implement the rail trail plan in a creative way. Thank you.

Commissioner Valentine

Yes.

Mr. Warren

I'd be less than candid if I didn't say that I've come around to Venture Park. Would I be happy to be a partner? We're looking forward to the the tax revenues particularly in the out years, the number of jobs that will come to our community as a result of your endeavor. I'm also pleased to say that you're one of the the few and I'm hoping that this will be the trend that has a willingness to address some of our infrastructure needs far in advance. Um also to the to the extent that you are adding to our infrastructure is going beyond Venture Park and also having um an impact on the larger community. And so that doesn't go unnoticed. You mentioned the food bank. Commissioner Valentine was actually over there just last week. Uh I spent some time at the food bank at

my church. They said, "We're going to a place called Venture Park." I said, "I know where that is." And so we ventured over there. And so we thank you we thank you for partnering uh with the food bank. Now my question is about transportation. What What are the conversations about the transportation needs in that that particular area of North Durham? Um I know initially when Venture Park was in its infancy, you talked about jobs particularly for the Braggtown community, which isn't directly in the community but close by. Are there any more discussions about you know what's the plan for particularly public transportation to get get there? Is there any discussions?

There There have been discussions. I think and thank you for pointing out the infrastructure investments that uh Welcome Group through Welcome Venture Park and working with the city and the county have have have created the the uh lift station improvements that we're talking about today are kind of like following the tail end of those. We've uh expanded roadway on Hamlin Road, uh expanded turn lanes at Old Oxford and Hamlin. We'll be expanding uh turn lanes and for safety at uh Glenn School and um uh oh my gosh, Red Mill Road um there as well. Um and the the uh building of North Durham Parkway, the segment of North Thoroughfare Parkway that we have built within the project. Um we've also included, I think, five bus stops uh currently there um to provide that basis for public transportation to and from the park so we could further attract some of the local employees that don't have transportation readily available. Um unfortunately, I would say that bus service doesn't come to our park. So, we we uh we met uh early on with uh um

some of the transportation leaders and try to extend that. We've been told that once the traffic you know, once that we have enough generation of people there that would warrant the bus service uh then we would get that. It's kind of chicken and egg. So, we would love to see bus and public transportation to the park. I think a lot of our uh company that are moving there for hiring purposes would love to see that as well. Um so, we're we are open for discussions, happy to engage, and happy to see how we can further um create a an opportunity for that public transportation to exist.

And so, I'm going to attest to the improvements on the road on Hamlin Road?

Yes.

Excellent. Excellent. And also, the unintended uh impact of the natural trail or roadway that has existed as a result of your development. So, so many members of the community are now using that uh for exercise and and leisure. And so, I don't know if that was intended or not, but uh people in the community say thank you.

Well, we I've noticed them early in the morning running and walking and it's uh it's been it's been nice. We've also uh you know, we were preserved about 35 acres of wetland streams, uh tree protection areas, which uh you know, and and through the sidewalk and multi-path inclusion in our development. It does make for a nice walkway and and there are quite a few folks from the neighboring communities doing that. So, thank you. Next time you're out at the Food Bank, please stop in and see us.

I'll do that.

Um I was going to ask Ellen just your question about transportation. Ellen, I'm sure she knows what I'm going to ask about the on-demand transportation option.

Yeah, no, thanks for bringing that up. Um Ellen Beckman, Transportation Director. Um you're correct. There is public transportation, actually, um to this area. It's the um Go Durham Connect microtransit

service that's funded by the county transit plan. Um there's a North Durham zone that covers a pretty large area where you can get an on-demand kind of shuttle um within that zone. So, so you can um it it's designed to kind of facilitate transportation to some of the areas that are, you know, less dense and not on the fixed route uh bus service. Uh but, you can take that and then you can connect to a place like at uh like a Durham Regional where there's a bunch of uh transit routes that converge there and then you can transfer to other routes. So.

How could we work with the Venture Welcome Venture Park to help get that Are you aware of that program, the on-demand service?

I I am. Um I've

Is there

I don't know We can we can uh relay that information to our clients and tenants. I think it's it's really an employee and user-based you know, request. Um

It would be great if you could if we could work together to get that out to all the business owners so they know when they interview people if they don't have transportation, that would be an option for them possibly.

Happy to do that. Happy to work with Ellen, Matt, and Andy on that.

All right. Thank you very much. Uh so, that is well, we were on the outside of the public hearing, but that works. So, with all of the questions being in asked, what I will do allow I'll accept a motion to authorize the county manager to negotiate and execute an economic development agreement with Welcome Venture Park LLC.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and properly seconded. Well, we have a motion on the floor that's been moved and properly seconded. Any further discussion? All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please use the same sign. It passes unanimously.

Thank you.

And that is it for our public hearings for tonight. We are moving forward with our other business, and that is uh advanced public comments on the uh fiscal year 26-27 budget. Manager Hager.

Good evening, commissioners. We will share uh with the board and community and those who are in attendance tonight um a few highlights about our budget process and some uh the the um opportunities and challenges we face as we go into the development process of the 26-27 budget. We have about 12-14 slides we'll share, and then we will allow for advanced public comment. Uh we'll quickly talk about some documents that are in the resource materials within the website, share some expenditure and revenue highlights, and then um talk about ways we can get public input. This is one of many ways tonight with the advanced public comments and then some next steps. Next slide and our budget is anchored on guiding principles and those principles have been established a many years ago and there about 16 of those principles. We'll not go through all of them, but they follow our county's financial policies and our budget policies that reflect the strategic and operational planning that's within how we do our business in county government. And we also make sure that we maintain adequate fund reserves in the case there are emergencies. Again, there are 16 principles. We'll not go through them.

That is in the supplemental document as well as at the end of the slide deck as well. We started our budget development process back in the fall shortly after actually it's probably more summer after we passed last year's budget because we saw the challenges we would face with this current year. There have been many shifts and changes at the federal and state level that implicate what we can do and how we can perform services at the county level and some of that was brought up today how communities are very reliant on local governments. Counties often are close to those services that many of our residents need each day. Those principles all funded entities that received dollars went through a budget evaluation and that's continuing to happen looking at how they're funded what dollars are locally funded, what's mandated, what's required and then what's the priority because of community um support. Looking at allocations to make sure that their alignment aligns with um general statute requirements, whether it's a local mandate or board priorities, as well as looking at how do we assess operationally managing the budget. Looking at span of control, um benchmarking costs against peers where appropriate, and many other ways to determine are we as efficient as we should be, and if there are shifts required in the future, making sure that we've thought about those tough questions ahead of that shift. Um we've also been looking at strategies uh contingency strategies in the event there are federal and state or local revenue shortfalls. And as we

go into this and Mr. Lane will talk about some of those challenges, um those those are most important. And of course, we've continued to look at how do we refine our key performance indicators as we help share with our community members what we do and why we do it. Next slide. Our general fund is funded primarily um through property taxes and sales taxes. They comprise almost 80% of our budget. Um the next highest revenue is intergov- intergovernmental revenues that are close to 9%. I did a quick look before I talked cuz this is probably the fourth time we've shared it. I always try to find a new fact. 10 years ago, in 2000 No, 2016-17, the intergovernmental revenues totaled 13.97%, almost 14%. And you see right there it's at 8.9%. So, there's increased pressure on our property taxes and sales taxes. If you go to the next slide, we'll talk about expenditures. Counties and cities are structured with areas of focus for the county. We have several key areas. Our budget is comprised of service level areas, many of which are within our human services, our public health department, our social services department, two of the largest human services areas, our office of the sheriff, office of emergency management, as well as the libraries. Those are the largest departments we have about 2,200 employees and 2,300 when you count all of them for all funds. Beyond those key areas, education is the next largest functional area that we support.

And it has always been a tremendous commitment from this community for decades to support education. We're among the top funded counties per student in the state and have maintained that designation for decades. Durham public schools, Durham Technical Community College, and our commitment to pre-K cover those areas. And for a benchmark for that, when looking at it statewide in the education function, it's about 25% across when compared to our peers across the state, and we are at 35%, but again, that's a reflection of our values and our commitment to ensure that we support our talent pool that's coming along the the Next slide. I will next transition to Keith so he can share some fiscal updates.

Thank you, Manager Eagler. Good evening, Commissioners. It feels a little bit like a road show as the manager and I have had this presentation with various groups a number of times and I think the last one we had was with the Board of Education. And I talked about being at an inflection point and I think we are as a county and I will you'll hear me use that term and what I mean by that in summary is that the growth in revenue is not keeping up with the growth in expenditures and we're getting to the point if we continue doing some of the things that we want to do and have been doing that we are looking at property tax rate increases every year just to keep doing things. So, I call that an inflection point. What are some of the major issues that are happening right now for the county? We'll start with some intergovernmental revenue side of things. I noticed the manager talked about how that that amount as a part of the total general fund budget has decreased. It's going to continue to decrease. Part of the reasoning is is what are we're spending down our ARPA dollars and we have some holes to fill because ARPA dollars are no longer available. Pre-K support this

for this year we subsidized a little bit with ARPA funding of 1.1 million, some Pre-K support for DPS and some school health nurses. Then we get to the big beautiful bill as some people have called it at the federal level that have caused some pain that will cause some pain for Durham County. In particular, SNAP funding loss directly to the DA's program of 1.4 million dollars and that's 13 FTEs. It's a program that the county has had for decades that's now in in danger of going away. There other state grants that are being reduced for public health $737,000 for a child health grant some HIV and STI STI partner services is another $200,000. There's roughly another million dollar loss in revenue there or a reduction of services. We look at the Department of Social Services side, we're looking at a two million dollar estimated decrease in revenue funding because of the change in the cost share uh related to SNAP administrative costs. We're going from uh what was a 50% county cost share and 50% federal cost share is now going 25% federal and 75% county. That's a loss of two million dollars in revenue. Some other bigger issues that may not happen next year, but could happen in the year after that is some of the related to SNAP funding is related to error rates that the state is experiencing right now and all I want you to see is that circle down at the bottom. Depending on the error rate that the state experiences with this SNAP administrative costs, Durham County could lose anywhere from 3.8 million to 11.5 million. That's not come to fruition yet and that error rate could stay under the the federal guideline minimum, but if it doesn't, this is potentially on the table. That's a major revenue loss. Well.

Thank you. So, larger revenue issues we just went over intergovernmental revenues. Remember, the manager showed you our two major revenue sources, property tax and sales tax, make up 80% of all our revenue. Those are the key revenue sources that sort of drive everything that we think about. Economic growth in the county sort of drives sales tax growth. That growth is slowing and we see it in sales tax growth revenue and I'll show you a slide in a few minutes that sort of exemplifies that. Our local property market is growing and thank goodness it is. It's not growing quite as fast as it was five years ago. Um and even though it has grown significantly, there's still been some heartache and around revaluation process and how much that has hurt some people. So, even when growth is a good thing, it has some issues with it as well. Occupancy tax revenue, we talk about we're in the second year of a 3-year decrease of that amount to zero as that money now goes to uh, Discover Durham, I believe. Um, and that funding normally goes to support our capital projects and we have to find and make up that revenue somewhere else. In our governmental revenue we just talked about, ultimately what I would sum it up and say is we're seeing growing revenue variability. What I mean by that is we cannot count on standard growth every year that you can then build up build upon and feel comfortable with. This our revenue growth is slowing, it's a little bit more chaotic, and I don't see the chaos ending anytime soon. At the federal level in particular and even at the state level. This is a complicated slide. It's very impressive. David and I are really proud of it. All I need you to note is the blue columns. That is new sales tax revenue that the county experienced in that year to be used by county commissioners to pay for salary increases, to pay for health insurance increases, to expand

funding for Durham public schools, to pay for new positions. What I'd like you to notice, if this little red is look at the amount of growth in the past 3 years, including 2026-2027 versus previous years. It's not there. Remember, 80% of our revenue comes from property tax and from sales tax. And so, our second biggest revenue source over the last 2 years and what I'm estimating for 2026-2027 coming up is practically zero. $770,000 in new sales tax revenue is not enough to grow to pay for the cost of expenditure increases that the county has, much less consider new initiatives like EMS needing a whole new uh ambulance group out there, which is like two ambulances and 12 people, and we could go on and on about the different needs that the county departments has. Can't be funded with only $770,000 new revenue. Property tax revenue, that's the other side of that 80% coin. That's the only other place that we have as a county to find revenue, significant revenue increases. And what I'd like for you to notice there is again is the columns that matter, and the blue part of that column is growth in property tax revenue without a property tax rate increase. That's natural growth in property tax revenue. And Kiar can help explain that at a later date, but basically that we get natural growth in property tax revenue when new buildings get built every year, new houses come online, or a building that was half built gets completed. So, we're still growing in that natural growth, but what I'd like you to note is the green part of each of those columns. That's additional property tax revenue that the board has chosen to apply through a property tax rate increase to meet the needs the expenditure needs the county has. And what I would ask you to note is look at the 5 years. This is a roughly a 10-year graph. Look at the first 5 years versus

the second 5 years. And in particular look at the last 2 years. The amount of additional property tax needed by the county to support the services asked for by citizens and desired by the county commissioners has needed a significant property tax rate increase the last 2 years. What does 1 cent on the tax rate bring in? $8.8 million. Just nail that in your back pocket. Half of that, if you did a half cent tax rate increase in 2026-2027, it would bring in 4.4 million. 1 cent brings in 8.8. But going back to the property tax rate increases, what I would like for you to know is look at that little red circle down at the bottom of that middle table. The last two property tax rate increases for Durham County have been the highest tax rate increases percentage-wise in the last 30 years. We are at an inflection point where we are depending on property tax rate increases to supply the necessary revenue to meet the needs of Durham County residents and the Board of County Commissioners. The question that everyone has to ponder is is that sustainable? I will also remind the commissioners, I told you this at the board retreat, between the city and the county in the last 3 years, the property tax rate has gone up 20 cents, or about 19%. That's not accounting for revaluation. So, literally everyone in the county, or almost everyone in the county, has had a a close to a 20% property tax bill increase between if you're a city resident. What do the 26-27 estimates looking like? Let's sum it up by saying that our office, when we look at some key revenues and some key growth and expenditures that we have to pay for, that we see 13.5 million dollars in expenditure increases that we have to take care of. Those are benefits cost increases, some loss in funding, some other places that we have to fill up, but I'm only I'm seeing 8.7

million dollars in new revenue between the property tax growth, sales tax growth, and loss in some other revenues. I'm only seeing 8.7 million dollars in new revenue to pay for that 13.5 million dollars in known expenditure increases. The way I would frame it is I'm already in a hole 5 million dollars before I even get to even ground. I'm I'm in a hole I've got to climb out of just to get to even ground. And this does not include any expansion request yet for education, which by the way, DPS asked for 19 plus million dollars in additional funding from the county. This difference right here does not include that. Does not include any expansion request for any county department yet, nor does it increase salary include salary and benefits cost increase related benefits cost increases for So, we have some hard decisions to make as a county. We are at an inflection point. Again, you can always go back and raise the property tax rate and meet some of this difference, but there are hard choices ahead. What are some of the book key budget takeaways? Slowing revenue and quickening expenditure growth. Economic indicators point to potential for further challenges. It's a little chaotic out there, and I don't see that changing for the next 2 to 3 years. We need to consider long-term sustainability. I say this every time the decisions you make today have long-lasting ramifications, and sometimes you have to make tough decisions now to ensure sustainability, fiscal sustainability into the future. We have to begin prioritizing early. The manager and management team have done a great job of that along with our office and some other ones. We have some difficult decisions coming. We're going to have to say no to certain things or figure out unique ways to pay for certain things. We have to begin those strategic discussions immediately, which we are. And we're looking forward to hearing from citizens about some of those strategic discussions we need to have. Manager spoke of briefly, we're having man monitoring quarterly reports for any

earlier warning signs. I don't see anything terrible yet. We're not stretched too thin yet, but I am concerned and we're paying attention. We will need to probably to keep our long-term sustainability of fiscal sustainability in line, we'll probably need to limit some of our mid-year fund balance amendments. What does that mean? When departments come to you with a surprise request or something new that's exciting and they want to do, where do we find those funds? We usually go to our savings account, which is fund balance, and we appropriate that fund balance to do it. We may need to be a little less uh a little more judicious in doling out those funds when they are requested. And ultimately, again, we have to prioritize our long-term fiscal sustainability. What are some of the headwinds in the next 5 years? We've got a huge ERP implementation process to come. We get one shot to do that correctly, and we need to get it right or it will it will hold us back for a while. So, I know the manager is laser-focused on that and wants to make sure it's it's a success. ARPA backfill. We are going to have a lot of nonprofits coming to you that are going to be missing what was funded with ARPA dollars and expecting you to backfill. I just showed you one of the slides where the county's already got to find close to 2 to 3 million dollars to backfill ARPA dollars that we used this year and previous years. We have tax rate increases needed just to pay for the debt service on the 22 GO bonds in our CIP. We have other areas pressing that will need to be funded. The uh building renovations for Durham Public Schools, buildings for DTCC, renovations of some of our own buildings. This detention center across the street, while working right now, is close to what, 40 years old? Uh it gives me nightmares in terms of how much cost of keeping that up or doing something new. So, we have major issues also on a whole 'nother side of the budget, which is the capital improvement plan. We have to keep our fiscal foundation in order, keep our fund balance at the right level, keep

our AAA bond rating so we can get the lowest interest rates possible. We have, and I'll say it again, there are a lot of state and federal changes happening right now, and it's a little chaotic. We have stagnating revenue growth. There's a certain amount of mission creep in in Durham County. What I mean by that versus mandated services we have to provide versus the non-mandated services we like to provide in addition to the things that we have to do. We've had a good 10, 15, 20-year run in revenue growth as we have matured into a hustling and bustling city. Those times may be slowing down and we may have to consider what services we support in the future. We can Are we going to support better the mandated services we have or we continue to spread our services thin and charge residents for the price of that sort of expansion of services. We have some macroeconomic changes, inflation. Goodness gracious, who knows what wars in the Middle East may or may not do in terms of costing us down the line in any number of different ways. And yet we still have population growth, but I will note that the population growth, and I think I showed you a slide. Our our population growth is largely going to be in an older age group. It's not so much younger people. It's largely older folks. And we'll have to figure out how that affects us. The budget calendar. We are currently uh in meetings and we're in the last stages of departments meeting with the manager and where they are requesting dollars that the manager quietly smiles at and says, "We'll see." As she knows and has told them consistently we don't We have very few dollars available for the many requests. Uh the key thing to note is that we will have a budget Durham County virtual budget discussion on March 30th. Uh May the 11th is the key date where the manager will present to you the board her manager's recommended budget and then we will have a month of meetings with the board where you will discuss the manager's budget and make changes as you see fit and hopefully we will approve a budget on June the 8th.

One last thing to note that the manager There is a Oop, I don't know what happened there, but we have a budget survey that you can go find online. I know that I saw in the agenda packet there's a link to that budget survey. So, even if you don't have quick statements you want to make if you're a resident of Durham County tonight or even at the virtual meeting on May March the 30th, you can always go to this survey and write down your your expectations, your wants, your hopes and dreams on that survey. And you can use this quick QR code to get there. And with that, Manager Hager, I'm done.

Thank you so much, Keith. And those are our remarks and we welcome the comments.

All righty. Um Commissioners, do you have any comments? We have one public comment tonight, but do we have commissioner comments? Go ahead. Vice Chair Alston.

Yeah, I know we've gotten variations of this presentation ourselves, but I feel like I always learn something new every time we go through it myself. I did have a question for uh Budget Director Keith. I see him running away from us. Um or David or Manager Hager. Uh where the just provide clarification. The slide that says, you know, from the new tax revenue growth of like new construction, new properties of $10 million, that's not like the net revenue or like balance to say, "Okay, we're building these new homes and these new families coming in, but also we have to provide all those new families and new community new members services." So, it's not like the net of like taking out those costs because there is costs also that revenue.

Absolutely. There's always costs indirectly or directly related to that new revenue coming in, which is like, yes, you need more EMS ambulances out on the road for that. It's also why you do economic development. You hope to get certain buildings that have high dollar valuation that bring in high tax revenue, but don't press on services

quite as much. That's the wonderful art and science to mixing and matching residential development versus commercial development. What

Yeah, I know I just wanted to like clarification on that cuz I think when I was reading it even though we've heard it many times I was just like so that folks are like oh that's $10 million that's just like up for grabs that has no strings attached. That's $10 million in revenue but we also have to provide services resources too. Those construction that we have here.

Okay. Um yeah, Commissioner Burton.

Yes. Um the question I have is about the ratio of commercial properties to residential properties. Like I know KR you may know the answer like how many commercial properties do we have in Durham County? I know you shared that number before before and the number of residential in Durham or can you get that number for us again?

I can get I can get the specifics but that is close to roughly 10,000 commercial and then the rest will be residential. We're talking about 130,000 parcels.

Yeah, that's that's not a lot. So it's like we're depending on residential property owners to carry us. Correct? Is that

Correct. Um and then some of that's vacant land versus improved land. So I'll have to give you the exact figures but it is definitely about 10,000 commercial properties and that's that is improved and vacant.

Thank you. Um

I would ask that I'm sorry KR real quick. The trend though has been that there's been more residential growth than commercial growth and that is I think what you're getting at. The RTP used to be provide significant

commercial property valuation when it was doing different things 10 years ago. Also, office space. Um I think we talked about some of the the vacancies in the office space has caused the valuation of some of those commercial properties not to grow at the level. So, what that does do, ultimately, is put pressure on residential property and the tax rate to be supported by residential property to go up to make up for some of those losses.

And so, it's important to note as well, although it's 10,000 parcels, we look at what's the value of those parcels. And so, that's really important. And so, our mix of valuation um of residential to commercial has been in a solid position over the years. And we can um confirm that that mix.

Yeah, that'll be helpful because when talking to our residents, letting them know that's kind of where we are in Durham County, particularly when they ask questions around are commercial businesses paying their fair share and things like that. So, thank you.

Uh Commissioner Jacobs.

Well, thank you. I appreciate that this um budget information is being presented um and shared with the public. We received this uh at a budget work session and our budget retreat. And I'm really glad I I think we haven't really done this like this before with the public hearing. Did we do this before?

It's been um the last time we did this was in 2015-16.

Okay.

So, it's been 10 years.

Yeah, it's been a while.

Okay. So, I appreciate that. I appreciate the survey um that you all are going to do this virtual meeting um and trying to make it as easy as possible for residents to receive this information and also to

provide input. So, thank you to our staff. Um and I just want to say that our budget director is doing her his job. Um but I I want to say to the residents that uh we understand that we are in challenging times, but this is a national trend. And Durham County is not isolated. We are part of what's happening in counties all over the United States. Um just from a macro level. Um and also I would say especially in North Carolina where we have seen our state government since I've been a county commissioner since 2012, we have seen the state reneging on their responsibility to fund public education, not just the operating costs and the personnel costs, but also the capital improvements related to schools, needs, maintenance, and repairs. And that is one of the biggest driving factors that we see when we looked at those numbers from the last 2 years of why there have been such high tax increases and why the budget needs were so high. And they have been directly related to funding for for Durham public schools. So, I think it's important that people see the bigger context here. Um and I want to say on a positive note that we are also doing great things in Durham County to make sure that we have a diverse economic base to make sure that we are having good jobs here for our residents. Um that's something that we the county is very intentional about. We just had the Welcome Venture Park here.

Um we are also um investing upstream in things like Durham PreK because we understand that we have to invest in our future. Um and we are also trying to look at things like how do we uh create more tourism here so that visitors and other people can help support our businesses and generate sales tax revenue. Um so I and related to what the manager said, I think it is important to look at the distribution of our um tax rate because compared to a lot of other counties, we actually have a very diverse tax base. Um and that's something else that we are very aware of and that's why we support economic development um in places like Treyburn and RTP and now the Welcome Park. Um so um I do think we and I also want to applaud what our staff does, which is they go after grant funding. Um they're fantastic at looking at all these other sources of funding. We saw that tonight as well. Um I want to also talk about our staff looking at redundancies and effectiveness and efficiency. We have to do that and that's why we're looking at consolidating our 911 center. Um and these are all things that we'll continue to do. So and Keith, we appreciate you um keeping us grounded, but I also want to really emphasize that we, um, it's not all gloom and doom, and we're going to get through this together, and Durham is still very fortunate, um, in compared to other [clears throat] places, um, in

the state and in our in this country, and we will keep making the key investments that we need to do to have a bright future for everyone in our community. Thank you.

Uh, Commissioner Valentine.

Yes, uh, Director Laney, thank you for your presentation. Uh, I just have three, uh, sort of questions. One, you keep referring to an inflection point. So, how am I to understand the inflection point in light of the larger discussion around property tax reform in our state? I mean, this is trend across our nation, but I believe there's going to be action in this particular area. And so, that's sort of the big elephant. And so, what what are what are what are we discussing relative to that?

I'm not including that discussion. I know I've seen a few of those meetings, uh, on my computer screen that the state legislature's had, and they are disconcerting, at best, from a local government standpoint. The inflection point I mean is just for Durham County in terms of its growth in expenditures and desires and needs, and particularly supporting Durham Public Schools, the ability to do that using natural growth in revenue has all but dissipated, and we're at the point of needing property tax rate increases every year, potentially just to handle some things that we used to be able to in the past handle with natural growth. That's the inflection point I've talked about. When I take into account potential changes at the state level, constitutional amendments and whatnot, then it becomes a whole different ballgame. It may limit your ability as commissioners to raise taxes, but it does not limit expenditure growth. And then we are looking at significantly scaling back the services we provide if you're limited in the revenue growth that you have. That is my deep concern unless we bring in some magical commercial property evaluations of source, which I'm sure we'll put a high priority on. But that that's a

whole different ball game what they're talking about at the state level. And I'm deeply concerned that as well-meaning as many of those legislators are, they do not understand the nuance and some of the possible downstream effects of some of the choices they are pondering at this moment. It is quite scary, frankly.

Uh thank you for that that context. I think that our our residents uh need to be aware. Second, you talked about the cost uh sharing shift as it relates to SNAP uh the SNAP program, SNAP benefits program. And you also talked about additional costs that would uh the county would have to bear with regards to administrative error rates. I think that the part that our um citizens need to know is that that error rate is not just specific to Durham County.

Is that correct?

Statewide, yes, sir.

Statewide.

And so if Durham County is doing their part

Right.

Doesn't matter.

but other parts of the state are not we will county is still going to be

paying a price.

All right. I just want to make sure that was clear. Uh my colleague just moments ago talked about tourism. And so some of our uh occupancy tax funds are are going to an alternate source with the thought that the return on investment in sales tax will will occur. Um when do we believe that we'll have uh some return on our investment with respect to that?

I am not quite the person to answer that question. Um I don't know when it will be specifically. That's a long-term investment of those occupancy tax dollars. It remains to be seen how and when those dollars would come back to us and increase tourism. I can't answer that directly cuz it just depends. So, on the consent agenda today, uh one of the items talked about um surplus surpluses in sales tax and occupancy tax

for this year. And so, some of that is coming back in addition to the small percentage that we're receiving today. Right?

Yes, sir.

But in out years, we'll be receiving nothing.

Correct.

What does What is that out year today?

Well, next year, 2026-2027, or is it 2027-2028? David, I think it's We built in the second year is 2026-2027. The third year, we will go to zero in 2027-2028. There will be no money collected.

Okay.

No over collection, no anything. That At that point, the full $6 to $7 million amount, I think that's roughly the estimate of occupancy tax, will be going to Discover Durham.

County manager, uh would you like to add anything with regards to that discussion?

I would say that when the decision was made to shift those dollars to Discover Durham, the intent was to create a strategy so that years down the road, dollars would be um generated through expansion of um new infrastructure that would come to the community.

I can respond as a as our liaison to the Discover Durham board. Um right now, there There a fest- a festival study going on. Also, a sports facility study and also convention center. So, these again are long-term investments, but in the short-term, they are going to be rolling out some um a grants program related to festivals this coming year. So, there are some some things that are going to start happening um very soon, very quickly uh that hopefully we'll see the direct benefits of soon. But, then there's some very long-term types of investments that are look being looked at.

And if I may also add, sorry about that.

Um as the liaison for the Downtown Durham Inc. uh board for the county, I know that um Nicole Thompson has the State of Downtown Durham coming up on April 22nd because some of the work of this transit uh of the tourism tax dollars is adjacent to the work of Downtown Durham Inc. to help support our local businesses in Downtown Durham and the hotels uh especially bringing in more folks to downtown, to where the hotels around the community, but then also getting them to support the local businesses and shop local and bring in generate more tax revenue. So, that's an opportunity to also learn about how specifically in downtown um some of that work is going to be hopefully coming forward.

Okay.

I did have another question also. Um just wanted to note that Well, first wanted to piggyback off of a comment Commissioner Jacobs sent and also uh asking um for the budget document from our budget retreat, I think could we add in the commissioner like priority documents to that um that county registrar page? So, I think it would be also good since it's a lot of the documents of the presentations from staff, but also for the community to be able to see like these are also the priorities the commissioners are bringing forward and advocating for alongside staff. And the tax page of showing the tax rate increases over the years, that is solely Durham County, right? That is not the city. Yeah, and so what was the city last year? Cuz like I know not everyone is in the city, but most of our residents are in the city of like we probably hit like close Wasn't the city like 3 or 4% last year?

It was a 4 or 5-cent tax rate increase. I think the net total between the city and the county was 8 or 9 cents. I know it was not quite double figures, but within spitting distance. So, it was 8 or 9 cents total.

I think it'd be And I know it's like again a city, but maybe like in some of our slides like to include that also cuz we're not just these tax rate increases aren't just in a silo since we are this city-county um community that the folks are being hit with the county taxes, majority of them are also being hit with the city tax rate increases, too.

Okay. All right. So, those are comments. Now, our public comment comes from Carl New Newman.

[laughter]

Good evening, commissioners. My name is Carl Newman. I am here tonight in my capacity as the vice chair of the Durham County Library Board of Trustees. Um it has been a big calendar year for the library because of course we got our new library system director, Dana Conner, who started on January 6th. And I think that her budget asks for the library system were due around the time she knew which printer she printed to. Uh however, she has already had the opportunity to discuss with the Board of Trustees at the February meeting the library's ask for this year, which I know are in your departmental budgets. Um you know, candidly, we've been good good kids in class um and made, you know, budget asks in line with what we know is and have heard why it's going to be such a tough budget year. I just came here tonight on behalf of the Board of Trustees in support of the library system as you go through this budget process um to remind you of a few things about the library. The first of which is in the last several budget cycles, they have been your fifth largest county department roughly flat in full-time equivalent and that remains still the case. Um, and in that time, most recently in the last year, we've added back Sunday hours, which we are all thrilled about and I know the community here in Durham is, too. However, that's just at main library and they have had to do that without any additional staff. Um, and the last thing that I do want to

say, uh there's two things in the budget that, you know, talking with Dana about the library's asked. One is um a facilities fee that is designed to do multi-year or sort of be a multi-year pot of money to work on projects for facilities expenses. Unfortunately, at Stanford L. Warren Library and elsewhere in public library buildings, we sort of know that deferred maintenance sometimes becomes maintenance delayed and then actually now it's really expensive cuz we should have done it before. Um, and so I'd ask, you know, even to the extent you think of that as new money, we think it's really important for the library facilities as physical places that are sort of uh an extra room for everyone in Durham to meet. And the last thing that I'll say, of course, is um, you know, we know that a budget is not a popularity contest. But, if it were, um if you look at just about any resident survey you've ever done, it'll probably tell you that the most beloved branch in your Durham County government tree is the Durham County Library System. And so, we appreciate this body and board's uh support of the library over these last few years, um but hope to encourage you to continue in that trend even what would in what we know will be a hard year for the county's budget. That's all I had to say.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Newman. And thank you for hanging in there with us uh today to um for the end of the meeting here. All right, that was for information, right? Yep. That was for information, so we'll move forward. The next item on our agenda is board and commissions appointments. Um Attorney Williamson.

Good evening. We have five boards here where we have um where the board has selected its candidate um for the Alliance Board of Directors, the board has selected Vandana Munshi. For the Durham Convention Center

Authority, the board has selected Kamala Uzzell. For the Durham County Women's Commission, we have two positions available. The board has selected Valerie Porum Thompson and Sarah Cunningham. For the Durham Cultural Advisory Board, the board has selected Mary Lou Flowers Shown. And for the Historic Preservation Commission, the board has selected Nicholas Trepany. I apologize if I mispronounced your name. Congratulations to all that were selected.

All right. Thank you very much. Uh next item on our agenda would be for items pulled from the consent agenda, but we did not have any of those. And the last item is the adjournment. I get confused. Do we vote to adjourn? All right, I'll accept the motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and properly seconded that we adjourn. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, please use the same sign. Passes unanimously. We are adjourned. Thank you all very much.

Thank you.