Durham City Council faced pressure from dozens of community members on the city’s proposed budget, homelessness plan and renewal of a contract including contentious surveillance technology during its Monday meeting.
Residents participated in the second public hearing on the city manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget and Fiscal Year 2027-32 Capital Improvement Plan, which will guide the city through what has been described by council members and City Manager Bo Ferguson as an “unprecedented” year.
During the May 18 council meeting, Ferguson proposed a $766.1 million budget, an increase from $722.2 million last year. However, the budget contained “tradeoffs,” with cost cuts alongside increased investments from community partners and direct financial commitments to social problems such as homelessness…