Durham County Board of Commissioners: Nimasheena Burns

Name as it appears on the ballot: Nimasheena Burns 

Age: 40 

Party affiliation: Democrat 

Campaign website: www.BurnsforDurham.com 

Occupation & employer: Durham County Commissioner and External Relations Liaison at the NC Department of Public Safety. 

1) In your view, what are the most important issues currently facing Durham County? If elected, what would be your top three priorities? 

The below priorities are interconnected and address some of the fundamental challenges and opportunities in Durham County. By focusing on these areas, the county can work towards creating a more equitable, prosperous, and stable community for all its residents. 

Workforce development is key to ensuring that residents have the skills and opportunities needed for gainful employment. This includes job training programs and initiatives to match job seekers with employment opportunities, thereby improving individual livelihoods and the overall economic health of the county. Workforce Development Will be a priority in Durham. Durham County, part of the Research Triangle, is at the forefront of industries like biotechnology, healthcare, and information technology. These sectors are rapidly evolving and require a skilled workforce. As per recent data, Durham County has experienced significant job growth. The unemployment rate in Durham County, while fluctuating, generally trends lower than the national average, indicating a healthy job market that needs a skilled workforce. Despite economic growth, income disparities exist in Durham County. Workforce development programs can help bridge this gap by providing skills and training to underemployed or unemployed residents. Durham County’s population is growing, with a notable increase in younger demographics and diverse populations. Tailoring workforce development to these groups is essential for sustainable growth. While Durham County has a high level of educational attainment compared to state and national averages, there’s still a significant portion of the population without postsecondary education, which workforce development programs can address. myFutureNC aims to ensure that by 2030, 2 million North Carolinians have a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential. The number for students proportionate to Durham is almost 100,000. Workforce development aligns with this goal by providing alternative pathways to traditional four-year degrees, such as vocational training and certifications. Closing the skills gap between what employers need and the skills job seekers have. Workforce development programs in Durham County must tailor their curriculum to meet the demands of local industries. 

Affordable housing is a critical need in Durham County, as demonstrated by significant investments in this area. For example, in 2019, Durham residents voted in favor of a $95 million housing bond to fund affordable housing initiatives. This large-scale investment reflected the urgency of addressing housing affordability, which is crucial for the stability and well-being of residents. This plan included $10.5 million to strengthen the city’s homeless system, $100 million for affordable multifamily rental units, and $17.5 million for neighborhood stabilization efforts. While that initiative was crucial at the time since a significant portion of Durham renters (48%) have difficulty affording their homes, it was not enough. Since my election in 2020, I voted in support of every affordable housing initiatives. 

While historically counties have not worked on affordable housing, we have ventured into a multitude to public private partnerships that have created 2000+ affordable housing units across Durham County utilizing our Budget, Fund Balance as well as ARPA funding. 

Focusing on minority economic development is vital for achieving equitable economic growth. My work as a Commissioner in Durham has highlighted the importance of supporting a diverse economy and preparing the workforce to meet the demands of current and emerging industries. This approach can help reduce economic disparities and foster inclusive growth. Historic redlining and discriminatory policies have had lasting impacts on Black homeowners in Durham. The gap in home values between predominantly Black and white neighborhoods is substantial, with homes in Black neighborhoods often undervalued by $48,000 on average. This contributes to a significant wealth gap, where the typical white family has almost 10 times the wealth of a typical Black family. 

Durham’s focus on criminal justice reform is vital in addressing the systemic issues that disproportionately affect minority communities. This includes reevaluating policies and practices to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities within the criminal justice system. 

Investing in master’s pay for teachers in Durham County, NC, is important for several reasons. Teachers with a master’s degree typically earn between $2,700 and $7,300 more per year than those without an advanced degree. This increase in pay can attract and retain highly qualified teachers, which is crucial given that 93% of National Education Association members believe more teachers are needed to bolster the post-pandemic education system. Additionally, teachers with advanced degrees often bring enhanced skills and knowledge to their roles, which can improve educational outcomes for students. Therefore, providing master’s pay can be an effective strategy for enhancing the quality of education in Durham County. In the next 2 years we will no longer be in a position to utilize American Rescue Plan Dollars. It is my hope to utilize three funding sources: Priority: Property Taxes, Federal and Private Grant Support. Our county is ranked as one of the highest grant funded counties in the state based on our good stewardship, innovative ideas, creative partnerships and braided funding strategies. Last Resort: General Fund; Fund Balance. 

With the new tax appraisal and tax reevaluation taking place over the next two years, its is my hope that raising taxes will be a last priority. It is my hope that over the next 4 years we do not have to raise taxes more year after year. We have not done so since I have been elected and I would like to maintain that trend as not to tax Durham’s longest termed residents out of their forever homes. A top Priority for Durham should be the upcoming tax evaluation and reappraisal. We have got to reappraise property because have gone too long without doing son. The tax office had to put things on hold during COVID. We are also going to be doing a tax reevaluation. That evaluation post appraisal will guide us in reducing our tax rate so as not to profit off our community but have a neutral tax rate. The tax appraisal and tax evaluation process are crucial for Durham County’s future for several reasons. It is a primary revenue generator: Property taxes are a significant source of revenue for the county. Accurate appraisals ensure that property taxes are fairly assessed, providing the necessary funds for essential public services like education, public safety, infrastructure, and health service 

2) Durham Public Schools has been roiled by issues relating to salary increases for about 1,300 classified staff members. What is the county’s role in ensuring these staff members are paid according to their work experience and to the recommendations of a 2023 pay study commissioned by DPS? How can the county work more closely with the school board to ensure a situation like this doesn’t occur again? 

In Durham as well as across North Carolina, if a local school board overpays classified employees due to an error stemming from a pay study it commissioned, several legal and administrative procedures come into play concerning the county’s role in addressing the issue. The county’s involvement primarily revolves around fiscal oversight and ensuring that public funds are used appropriately, although direct intervention in school board operations is limited by law.

The county’s role after a local school board has overpaid classified employees due to an error from a commissioned pay study is primarily one of fiscal oversight and ensuring accountability for public funds. I along with a few other Commissioners as well as our staff suggested that DPS have additional financial techs and officers added to their budget and finance office. It was also asserted to the CFO that he ask for that in the budget request. Although the county does not manage the school board’s operational decisions, it has a vested interest in the responsible use of taxpayer money and can encourage corrective actions through its funding and oversight roles. Collaboration between the school board and county officials, along with adherence to state laws and regulations, is essential in resolving overpayment issues and preventing future occurrences. 

As county commissioners we are responsible for financing the capital and operational needs of local school systems to the extent provided by law. This includes allocating funds to cover salaries as determined by the local school board. However, the county’s role does not extend to direct involvement in employee compensation decisions. 

Unlike Mecklenburg County, Durham did not seek to recovery the overpayments. While direct intervention in compensation matters is limited, as Commissioners we can exert pressure on the school board to ensure fiscal responsibility by adding more staff, maintain a comptroller and be more transparent around class and compensation studies. This will involve more stringent requirements for reporting and accountability in the use of county-allocated funds. 

3) Voters passed a $423.5 million school construction bond in 2022, but due to rising construction costs, that money is running out quickly. Should Durham put another education bond before voters? What is the most sustainable way to address new construction and renovation of existing school facilities as Durham continues to grow? 

As I have stated publicly, to our staff, to board members, my colleagues, the public as well as the direction, I have given to the manager, believe Durham needs to get on a Bond Schedule. With the city possibly needing another housing bond and possibly needing an infrastructure bond, I want o be care with back to back years of consistent tax increases. We should focus on executing the projects funded by the 2022 bond. During this period, we, the county should regularly review project progress, spending rates, and adjust plans as needed. This is also a time for assessing the impact of these projects on school capacity and maintenance needs to inform future bonding decisions. I think it would be most prudent to set a bond schedule for 2028 or 2029. Assuming a steady expenditure and project completion rate, the next bond could be considered for issuance before 2023. This would allow the county to assess the completed projects’ impact, understand further needs, and prepare a comprehensive proposal for the next set of improvements. This gap also provides a buffer to manage debt levels and minimizes tax impacts. the next issuance could be timed for 2034 or 2035, allowing for a 5-6 year interval between bonds. This period would depend on the 2029 bond’s success, the economic and fiscal landscape at the time, and the evolving needs of the school system. 

I have had many residents ask, Vice Chair Burns, why not next year. The simple answer is much like taking out debt on home, we, the board, the manager an staff, don’t make those decisions on our own. The same way homeowners work with lawyers, a banker and/or broker, county governments in North Carolina looking to issue a school bond, must involve both, the State Treasurer and the Local Government Commission ( LGC). The LGC, which is chaired by the State Treasurer, must approve any debt issuance by local governments, including counties. This includes school bonds, which are often used to finance the construction, renovation, and equipping of school facilities. Establishing an appropriate bond schedule for a school system, such as here in Durham County, North Carolina, involves considering several factors including the school system’s capital improvement needs, the community’s ability to support additional taxes or debt, and the projected growth or changes in the student population. In preparation for the most recent bond our staff prepared detailed financial statements and projections to demonstrate our ability to manage the additional debt. That’s hard to do if we have not already spent the money from the previous year or made significant strides in serving the debt (i.e. paying it back). The LGC ensures that the bond issue is structured in a way that minimizes costs and risks to the county and its taxpayers. 

4) Although it owns a significant amount of property in Durham and has a $12 billion endowment, Duke for the most part doesn’t pay taxes to the city or county. Some private universities, such as Yale, contribute millions of dollars to the towns in which they are located. Should county (and city) leaders consider asking Duke to contribute payments to the city/county for housing or other initiatives in lieu of paying taxes? 

I think it deserves thoughtful consideration and I would be a proponent of moving forward with setting up a payment system between Duke and Durham County. Duke and Yale, like many other universities in the United States, are exempt from paying property taxes on educational buildings due to its status as a nonprofit educational institution. This exemption is based on the principle that the university provides public benefits that justify the tax exemption. While the negotiations between universities and communities vary, I will use this space to provide a very brief possible scenario for Duke and Durham that mirrors Yale and New Haven, CT. 

Yale currently has a system in place called “Payments in Lieu Of Taxes” also called “PILOT” for short. Yale University’s PILOT contributions to New Haven stem from a longstanding recognition of the university’s significant impact on the city, both economically and socially. Duke, much like Yale, occupies substantial property that, due to its tax-exempt status, does not contribute directly to property tax revenues. As Durham faces a financial crossroads, there has been increased pressure on Yale to contribute to the city’s finances, leading to the establishment of a 

When I think about the overall impact, I imagine Duke’s PILOT payments could become a crucial part of Durham’s budget, helping to fund public services and infrastructure improvements. Most communities do not solely utilize a local government officials. Yale, for example utilized negotiators and had to engage a multitude of external stakeholders. We would need to work on community advocacy, expand our legislative efforts and prepare for any legal challenges. We would need to engage both State/local lawmakers when proposing legislation to reduce the scope of property tax exemptions for large nonprofits or to increase the mandatory contributions through PILOT programs. Duke University’s PILOT payments could begin at $15 to $20 million annually, increasing by 3% each year to account for inflation and city growth. These payments could possibly contribute to a 10% increase in the budget for Durham’s public schools, improving resources and teacher salaries. I also think the agreement could include provisions for additional contributions during financial emergencies or for specific community projects, further demonstrating Duke’s commitment to being a proactive community partner and a partner of Durham County. 

5) What is your vision for growth and development throughout Durham? How can the county balance growth while also ensuring gentrification doesn’t push long term residents out? 

Balancing growth and preventing the negative impacts of gentrification, particularly in areas like Durham County, NC, requires a multifaceted approach. Durham County has experienced significant population growth. As of the latest U.S. Census data, the population of Durham County was over 300,000, with a growth rate that surpasses national averages. The county has seen considerable economic development, partly due to its proximity to the Research Triangle Park, attracting high-tech industries and leading to job creation. There are four strategies that should be deployed county wide in order to balance this growth. We need to support Affordable Housing Initiatives. Implementing and expanding affordable housing programs is crucial. This includes subsidizing housing for lower-income residents and enforcing inclusionary zoning laws that require a percentage of new development to be affordable. We must work to preserving community character. Engaging with local communities to understand their needs and preserving the cultural and historical aspects of neighborhoods can help in maintaining the identity of Durham County amid growth. We also have to make economic inclusivity a priority. Ensuring that the economic growth benefits all residents is essential. This could involve supporting local businesses, creating job training programs, and ensuring that new jobs are accessible to long-term residents. We have to have real conversations about affordable public transportation and improved infrastructure. Investing in public transportation and infrastructure that supports both new and existing communities can help in reducing displacement pressures. 

6) What should the county government be doing to further housing affordability? What additional steps can the county take to assist those living in substandard public housing? What should the county be doing to support people who are not in control of their own housing (including renters, the unhoused, and those whose homes are owned by banks) as costs of living skyrocket? 

Affordable Housing. Without question. Outside of just shelter. Housing effects how a person accesses every other service in this community. I’ll start with what I would do in my next term and then focus on the why. The first week of January and this week after over a year of research staff brought forth the potential strategies for my proposed “Revolving Housing Fund” Our neighboring communities as well as communities nationwide have started collaborating on these funds. In 2022 I asked staff to start working on a collaborative project for Durham County. We moved forward with Developing a steering committee. In Fall of 2023, after the preliminary findings were shared with me, I asked staff During our winter Policy Retreat to bring to develop the final white paper for the entire board and a presentation to be shared in January of 2024. Developing an affordable housing preservation fund that includes monetary support from financial institutions is going to be key as we move affordable housing forward. As a County Commissioner I would like to work with the city of Durham and local financial institutions to do the same in Durham. The fund includes two different loan options: A short-term revolving loan to help acquire properties to give developers time to obtain long-term support financing since financing for affordable housing can be more difficult to secure. A longer-term permanent financing loan to acquire and rehabilitate property specifically targeted toward “naturally occurring affordable housing.” This would increase our inventory of affordable housing Affordable housing is a critical need in Durham County, as demonstrated by significant investments in this area. 

The Revolving Housing Trust Fund is a unique concept that operates on the principle of lending and replenishing. It is essentially a pot of money that is used to finance affordable housing projects. Once the projects generate revenue, the money is paid back into the fund, hence, making it ‘revolving’. 

Housing affordability is a significant contributor to economic inequality. Implementing policies such as affordable housing quotas for new developments and expanding subsidies for low-income housing can help ensure that all residents have access to safe and affordable housing options. I want to send a strong message – that housing is not a privilege, but a right. And with the right planning and implementation, this vision can indeed become a reality. 

7) What do you envision as the future of mass transit in Durham? What initiatives would you like to support? What do you believe to be a viable next step?

I would want to see from the beginning and throughout the process, a robust public awareness campaign focused on those individuals who most likely will utilize those services. When I started out as a commissioner we were given the results of a survey completed by residents. 

When we reviewed the crosstab we found the majority of respondents did not ride the bus. After comparing them with riders and noticing different priorities we hired a firm to conduct a survey specifically for riders and the underserved to get a more accurate picture of what individuals needed. I want to get things right the first time as we move forward with our new transit plan. We need to be consistent with Implement marketing strategies to promote public transit as a convenient and eco-friendly option. This is the only way we can educate the public about the benefits and usage of the transit system. 

I want to make sure that we have an integrated system that is multimodal. We have to develop a network that integrates various modes of transportation, including buses, trains, bike-share programs, and pedestrian pathways. This ensures seamless connections between different modes for efficient transfers. I want to make sure it makes good economic sense for riders. I remember days when my car did not work and budgeting made my life and that of my families a lot easier. The transit system should be financially sustainable with a mix of fare-box revenue, government funding, and potential private partnerships. I would work to Implement fair and affordable pricing structures, with options for subsidies or reduced fares for low income residents. 

This brings me to my last point about my hopes for this new system to truly connect the region. I have worked in the surrounding counties for almost 2 decades. It’s my hope to establish connections with neighboring counties and cities to facilitate regional travel. 

8) What can the county do to address violent crime? What are the preventative steps the county can or should take with regard to mental health? What programs are in place elsewhere in the country that you would like to see implemented here? 

The quickest way to stop a bullet is with a job. The Hayti Reborn Justice Movement is a partnership with our office and Durham Technical Community College. This partnership with Durham Technical Community College has been invaluable. Early last year the county invested $2 million into the HR-JM for educational support and wrap around services for our neighbors looking for a second chance. We are already seeing the results of this investment with the graduation of our first cohort last fall and our second cohort this Feb. 2024. We saw students share inspirational stories about their new career paths, listened to their elevator pitches and also sadly bid farewell to a student that we lost right before he could reach the finishline. Our justice involved neighbors have shown great progress in the classroom and in job placement. 

I also prioritized developing a Black and Brown Male round table. The first convenings started in 2023. In this years budget retreat, I requested $250,000 in funding to support their recommendations for reducing juvenile criminal activity. 

I am most proud of the fact that as a member of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council that I advocated for an additional for our local non-profits. We were able to provide funding to local culture competent non-profits in our most high crime areas and we have seen significant progress and more engaged young people that are happy to be in a place to feel safe and explore new learning opportunities. We approved Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council’s local funding recommendation for FY 2023-2024. The funding is available only for programs serving youth who are delinquent, undisciplined, or at risk of court involvement and is restricted to services providing intermediate and community sanctions to the Courts. Programs are required to offer treatment, rehabilitation and/or educational enrichment. This combined funding of $1,115,935 will support 9 programs in Durham that provide wrap around services to our youth. During this year’s budget retreat I requested additional Funding for Juvenile Crime Prevention Council focused specifically on female offenders under the age of 20. Based on the recent findings in the JCP Council, Durham School Health Update and recent crime reports, Durham has seen both an uptick in the violence against female minors and we have seen an uptick in violent and drug crimes being committed by young women of color. We have also higher than normal trends in teenage pregnancy. I would like to offer an additional $75,000 to $150,000 to the JCPC that priorities non-profits that focus on improving outcomes for young girls in Durham County. The cap for the grants will be no higher than $40,000 and the Floor for the grants will be $20,000. I would like t see this funded reoccurring. 

9) Economic inequality rose significantly in Durham County over the past decade. How can county commissioners address this problem and ensure that the county’s prosperity is more equitable going forward? 

We are currently working to add an additional industry to the Bulls Initiative outside of life sciences. We are providing an additional funding of $500,00 for Durham Tech’s “Back to Work (BTW)” initiative and the “BULLS “initiative, the talent pipeline currently in its third year of operation. We know these initiatives are working. Our unemployment rate much like the states has been on the decline for 11 months. As we bring jobs to Durham we want to make sure that our residents are prepared for those jobs and get those jobs. The BULLS Initiative is offering full scholarships to young adults interested in pursuing a career in Durham’s growing life sciences industry. The BULLS Initiative is an equity centered program that seeks to recruit underrepresented students. 

One of the things I am most proud of as a Commissioner is my work to add additional benefit items to our community benefits agreement. In Durham County, when doing business recruitment we have each company enter into a community benefits agreement. Those items include making a concentrated effort to hire Durham residents, providing daycare, providing parental leave for employees, hiring justice involved individuals (where possible), spending with minority vendors, providing internships with students at NCCU, Durham Tech and Duke and providing externships for our Durham Public School teachers. I have always pushed for more than just efforts. I have asked for signed MOUS to partner with our local institutions of higher education to provide on the job/paid training as well as setting a specific number of job fairs with key stakeholders that are focused on hiring Durham’s most vulnerable populations. Its also important to note that when recruiting a large company they also tend to be a force multiplier for smaller companies to start or expand. This has been especially true since I was elected and worked with all three county managers to set a utilization goal for Women and Minority Owned Enterprises in both services and construction. With the Recruitment of Catalent (pharmaceutical), expansion of Eli Lilly (pharmaceutical) and Kempower (electric vehicle charging) we were able to get the three companies to collectively committee to $43 million in new spending with Minority and Women Owned Firms. 

I would also like to add I also think we can do a better job work working with our local entrepreneurs. Since my Disparity Study initiative moved forward last year we have seen low numbers in the Black communities but especially low numbers in our Latinx community. I worked with staff to hold a series of outreach events called Empower to bring in those business owners. I had a chance to have long conversations with MWBE owners and work to have them fully integrated into our upcoming Minority Economic Development Week and Secure their HUB certifications. Most recently we also awarded $1.5 million dollars to a non-profit who is focused on providing technical assistance to Latinx business owners to aid them in pivoting out of the pandemic as well as accessing local and state contracts. Immigrants may face difficulties in securing stable employment, often working in low-wage jobs and lacking job security. The county can support workforce development programs, provide job training and entrepreneurship resources, and ensure labor rights are protected. We also added $750,000 for local nonprofit to also provide cyber security technical assistance to SME’s of color that need that credential to operate in both the public and private sector. I would also like to continue Funding MWBE Evolution Interwise for 3 additional cohorts as well as follow up support for the current cohort. We started our first co-hort of women and minority owned business this year for the 39 week course. In this years budget retreat I requested an additional $250,000. I would like to also start at Small Business Grant Program for Durham Legacy Companies looking to fund their industry specific technical assistance needs. I would like to set up a $200,000 fund for $10,000 per company. The companies will use the funding to maximize their growth potential and resiliency while enhancing their strategic development planning and sustainability efforts to see impact future impact. 

Encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting small businesses, particularly those owned by minorities and marginalized communities, can stimulate economic growth and create jobs in Durham County. 

10) Are there any issues not included in this questionnaire that you would like to address? 

When last endorsed by the Indy, it was noted that I did not support the expansion of charter schools. That has not changed. At our current state in Durham, I am not in support of additional chart Schools in Durham County. Charter schools in North Carolina, including Durham, tend to have a higher percentage of white students compared to traditional public schools (49% in charter schools versus 44% in traditional public schools). They also have slightly higher enrollment of Black students but lower enrollment of Hispanic students compared to traditional public schools. This discrepancy raises concerns about segregation and accessibility, as charter schools often do not provide transportation and food services, potentially making them less accessible to lower-income families and contributing to racial and economic segregation. The charter school debate in North Carolina also centers on accountability. Charter schools have more flexibility in curricula, academic calendars, and personnel decisions. They are also subject to different criteria for opening and closing compared to traditional public schools. For instance, in North Carolina, 39.4% of charter schools received a grade of D or F, compared to 42.3% of traditional public schools. The performance criteria and the processes for opening or closing charter schools have been points of contention. Another growing trend is charter schools entering contracts with for-profit companies to manage their operations. This practice raises concerns about the appropriate use of public education funds. In North Carolina, there are several for-profit managed charter schools, and these Education Management Organizations (EMOs) often charge substantial fees, which can range from 10 to 20 percent of the school’s public funding. 

I am proud in my first two years to have expanded investments in Black Maternal Health with new programming, equipment and staff support. We have also increased our funding to culturally competent non-profits working with mothers of color. 

I am proud of our expansion in both the Bulls Initiative and our new investment in the Hayti Reborn Justice Movement to get individuals trained and equipped to work in the high paying jobs we recruit to Durham. 

I was proud to champion Juneteenth becoming a County Holiday. 

I was proud to past our Non Discrimination Ordinance in the first year in office. I was also proud to Champion our first ever Renewable Energy plan with a goal of being 100% renewable by 2050. 

Post Covid, I am proud to say that we honored the step increases for Durham County employees and raised wages. 

We have fully funded school request with an additional $34 Million. That includes increased support for Pre-K in Durham County with each new budget. Our work funding now subsidizes fees and fair and equitable salaries for teachers. 

I am proud of my work as the Vice Chair and now the Chair of the Special Tax Board for Go Triangle as we worked to invest in a multi-modal approach with our 2045 transit plan. 

I supported adding additional financial support to the Solarize Durham Project. Bringing the total funding to $150,000 to provide affordable solar panels to residents and businesses. The funding will subsidize solar panel purchase and installation in low- to moderate-income households. 

I am also proud to say that in the 2022 budget I advocated for providing an additional $100,000 to expand the Agriculture Economic Development Grant Program (also known as Small Farmer Grants). After touring our local farms this year and seeing just how much they did, I championed this initiative. The program became award winning in 2023. 

I along with another commissioner championed for additional support in Social Services for Medicaid Expansion. I asked how many individuals could we expect to have on our new Medicaid rolls. With the expansion it is anticipated that we will have an additional 22,000 eligible individuals seeking Medical Care. We made a budget adjustment with Social Services to Appropriate $1,728,956.74 in General Fund fund balance to add 35 positions to the Department of Social Services to address staffing needs for Medicaid Expansion. 

I was the only Durham County Commissioner to have my legislative goal move from our board to the NCACC Legislative Goals Conference to committee at the NC General Assembly. It’s my Goal to Increase the NC High School Dropout Age from 16 to age 18.

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