Durham City Manager Tom Bonfield’s proposed budget for the new year includes a property tax rate hike of 1.29 cents, according to the News & Observer. And that’s just the beginning. There are even more ideas for an even greater hike in the tax rate.
However, the budget includes $4.2 million for park improvements, and Bonfield said the council will get a proposal during budget meetings next week for a half cent tax increase for park maintenance, raising the tax rate to 58.54 cents. “I anticipate that will be a lot of the discussion, the solid waste fee will be a lot of the discussion” during those meetings, Bonfield said before making his formal budget proposal during Monday’s council meeting. Replacing the garbage fee would add another .6 cents per $100 valuation to the property tax increase to make up the $1.39 million the current fee is projected to generate next year.
So, while legislative reformers and the governor have reduced taxes , over in Durham, elected leaders are poised to add to the tax burden for property owners.
