Durham residents are facing a potential property tax hike of 11 percent — that’s right, 11 percent. So could it be that the Durham City Council is ready to acknowledge the difference between core, fundamental city services and other add-ons? Possibly so. According to this News & Observer story, 37 nonprofits may receive less funding from the city this year than they did last year. That, of course, has the groups upset. From the story:
Some council members aren’t of a mind to spend more on the arts with those basic and costly necessities bearing down on them. Council member Howard Clement III even suggested further cutting the money for the non-city agencies.
“I know that’s not politically popular,” he said. “I just don’t see how we can go any other way.”
We’ll see if the council holds its ground, or caves to the outcry bound to come at tonight’s public forum.
