Naloxone Funding, Court Strains, and Rail Trail Plans

The board hears rising naloxone demand and strains in public defense and child welfare cases, including the loss of a successful family drug treatment court. A major rail trail corridor advances without eminent domain, while budget headwinds - from sales tax shortfalls to federal funding risks- prompt freezes and a more cautious outlook. 17mins

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Original Meeting

Monday, October 6th, 2025
11764.551
Board of County Commissioners on 2025-10-06 9:00 AM - Work Session - Oct 06, 2025
Full Meeting on Granicus
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Wes Platt
Durham, NC
Neighborhood news guy for Southpoint Access in Durham.
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In This Video
  • Director of Public Health Rod Jenkins reported that higher-than-expected naloxone use, necessitated additional funding to restock existing and upcoming distribution machines at the detention center and Public Health Center.
  • Chief Public Defender Dawn Baxton described space and storage challenges from eCourts implementation and anticipated increased workloads due to the new crime bill leading to longer client incarceration.
  • Chair Allam and Chief Public Defender Baxton discussed prolonged timelines in child welfare cases, citing heavy dockets, insufficient court sessions, and the need for resources like Safe Babies while noting children remained separated from parents for too long.
  • Chief Public Defender Baxton recalled that a previously defunded family drug treatment court had significantly sped reunifications by connecting parents to resources, and noted nothing had replaced it since.
  • Chief Public Defender Baxton reported disposing of 8,408 cases in FY24–25 - down from pre-COVID levels - while emphasizing effective representation over speed amid limited staffing of about 25 attorneys and efforts to manage caseloads to prevent overwhelm.
  • Commissioner Burton asked for background on the former Drug Treatment Court, and Chief Public Defender Baxter explained it coordinated resources for parents and children to support reunification but was later defunded for reasons unknown to that office.
  • A long rail corridor would be acquired from Norfolk Southern without eminent domain, transferred to NCDOT for trail use akin to the American Tobacco Trail, and developed in phases over 10–20 years.
  • Community feedback showed 15% strong opposition to the trail while many respondents prioritized walking, biking, and running, requested amenities like restrooms, trailheads, shade, and signage, and emphasized connections to other trails, parks, and neighborhoods.
  • A speaker outlined that the proposed rail trail would pass near numerous community assets, including parks, preserves, trail connections, waterways, neighborhoods, schools, historic sites, recreation centers, business districts, and arts centers.
  • Commissioner Jacobs highlighted that the county’s $220,000 share represented about 1.7% of a $13 million-plus investment and praised the project as a game changer with funding already set aside.
  • A budget official cautioned that state and federal changes, fund balance outcomes, and a significant $11 million shortfall in sales tax collections would shape planning for FY26–27.
  • A budget official explained that the county responded to slowing revenues by freezing operating costs and mid-year vacant positions to control expenditures.
  • A budget official warned that a potential federal shutdown and policy changes could reduce revenues and increase costs, citing SNAP-related risks and local funds used to offset losses in the Durham nutrition program that may add pressure next year.
  • Director of Public Health Jenkins noted that counties were weighing how to support WIC staff with local funds during a potential federal shutdown, recalling the prior 35-day shutdown in 2018–2019.
  • A budget official emphasized that ongoing uncertainty created by mid-year disruptions complicated current management and the development of the FY26–27 budget.
  • A budget official reported that non-mandated positions remained frozen while public safety and select DSS and Public Health roles were exempt, and warned that employee benefit costs had doubled over the past decade with annual increases of 7–10% posing an unsustainable trend.
  • Manager Hager outlined a deliberate, time-intensive review to improve efficiency amid declining resources and rising pressures, asking for board patience while benchmarking against other counties and prioritizing required services and resident responsiveness.
  • Commissioner Jacobs emphasized that declining state and federal support, alongside flat sales tax revenues, had shifted a growing financial burden onto the county to fund public education and school repairs.
  • Declining federal research dollars flowing to local universities and RTP pose economic risks for Durham due to impacts on high-salary jobs, prompting a more conservative outlook.
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