Residents Rank Priorities for Durham County Government

Governor Stein's visit to Durham announced a new task force to expand childcare access, focusing on increasing seats and improving wages. Commissioner Jacobs shared insights on immigration reform, highlighting economic impacts of losing undocumented labor in key sectors. The Board reviewed results from the latest resident survey. 18mins

Education Health Immigration Municipal Services Public Safety & Police
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Original Meeting

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Durham County Board of Commissioners on YouTube
Monday, March 10th, 2025
7302.0
Full Meeting on YouTube
Video Notes

Here is a recording of the Durham Board of County Commissioners Regular Session from Monday, March 10th, 2025. View an agenda at https://bit.ly/BOCCdco.

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Alex Rosen
Durham, North Carolina
As the Executive Director of See Gov, I focus on how to best achieve our mission of expanding thoughtful and consistent participation in democracy. I develop See Gov's technology, work to grow our impact, and find ways to sustain our nonprofit. I live in Durham, NC and make highlight reels for Durham and other See Gov pilot communities.
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In This Video
  • Chair Allam shared that Governor Josh Stein visited Durham to announce a new task force focused on expanding childcare access across North Carolina. The initiative aims to increase childcare and pre-K seats, improve wages for childcare workers, and implement a tri-share model for cost distribution among government, private sector, and families. 
  • Continuing her remarks, Commissioner Jacobs shifts focus to federal policy and local impacts. She recounts attending an Immigrant National Immigration Reform Task Force meeting and a briefing that provided sobering economic projections regarding the loss of undocumented labor in key sectors such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality. 
  • Commissioner Jacobs addresses critical Medicaid funding issues. She discusses alarming statistics about Medicaid recipients in North Carolina, potential risks if federal funding drops below a 90% threshold, and the broader implications for vulnerable populations including children, seniors, and those in assisted living. He underscores the local fiscal impact that could result from federal funding cuts. 
  • Commissioner Jacobs concludes her update with a discussion on municipal bonds and the impact of federal legislative proposals. She explains the potential elimination of tax-exempt municipal bonds—a key mechanism for financing local infrastructure—and emphasizes the importance of active engagement with congressional representatives, including sharing personal stories to influence policy. 
  • Pamela Andrews presents a public comment on dramatic property tax revaluations. She recounts her personal experience with her home’s valuation spike, criticizes the impact of annexation decisions on property values, and expresses concerns about the effects on long‐term residents and senior citizens with fixed incomes. 
  • Commissioner Jacobs emphasized the need for a decision-making framework regarding the use of former school sites, highlighting the lack of funds for renovations and the importance of community involvement. Manager Hager suggested planning discussions with the board and financial advisors to develop a framework by fall, with continued discussions in joint meetings with the school board. 
  • Chair Allam introduced the presentation of the 2024 City County residents survey results. Director Edwards highlighted the collaborative nature of the survey between Durham County and the City of Durham. Jason Morado from ETC Institute explained the survey methodology, noting that 810 completed surveys were received, surpassing the goal of 800 responses. 
  • Jason Morado presented the results of the 2024 City County Resident Survey, highlighting that Durham County residents have a positive perception of their community, with 76% rating it as an excellent or good place to live. Key priorities identified include public schools, affordable housing, and police protection. The survey also revealed high satisfaction with library services and fire safety programs, while areas like EMS response time and public schools rated lower. Comparisons to previous surveys showed increases in satisfaction with retirement options and waste collection, but decreases in transparency and engagement with the county government. 
  • Jason Morado presented findings from the survey, highlighting that residents identified public schools, police protection, and street maintenance as top priorities for city and county leaders. The survey also emphasized the need for increased funding for public schools and affordable housing, which have consistently been the top priorities over the years. 
  • Commissioner Jacobs inquired about how departments will utilize the survey data to inform decision-making. Manager Hager responded that the survey results will be discussed in upcoming department head meetings and used during budget discussions to align internal patterns with public perception, aiming to improve service delivery. 
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