[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6646131,"mediaKeyId","3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a","parentId",3402433,"title","Durham IT outlines SAP replacement plan; county to issue ERP RFP with 2029 end-of-support deadline in view","audioSeconds",901,"startMs",15174000,"endMs",16075000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a&start=15174&end=16075","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a/thumbnail_15174000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646131/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-IT-outlines-SAP-replacement-plan-county-to-issue-ERP-RFP-with-2029-end-of-support-deadline-in-view","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646131-96ea71598efde782dbdda06d6bda1753/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724698&Signature=YitWcxlCXpBJb4suxYwcPUIyMZSjPQCjxBZ8m~SQMF2LGP~~mFLLBU0qUx8hmp8R3RKIxpoMK2DB7KUdSsjipm~7tIBokhzqWBnYrDVzQ-QLHF4SG6dzsw2fXWkzgrKODHdfbDxFvKlovKOYvEBNtSQXKQaAZD7sBv0YQuT-GRaFEAluTh3~~OTD2mWOJTkATQbOf~pWwi1LzkfxhW~SJQznuUlWPWIf~deqEIVDjDdpBJcqc9D68lx3ozd-GCwTK9NrJbSQsX2mvYwQ9S0AVu1wB9-e9lnPVQAR9VxgFmC6AeRtOGDgnEo5HY9Sj-WttL5ZoShwiXsEr0rphrcEQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Durham County","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Durham County's information-technology leadership told the Board on May 13 that the county has launched a request-for-proposals for a modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform to replace its aging SAP instance and that the RFP closes June 3.

Chief information officer Greg Marrow described the ERP replacement as a multi-departmental transformation that will touch finance, human resources, procurement, payroll and budgeting. Marrow said the county's current SAP edition dates to the mid-2000s and that SAP is moving customers to newer platforms; vendors and the industry broadly view ERP migrations as complex, long-duration projects that require a dedicated program team.

Staff provided a high-level timeline and said they expect the selection and implementation work to span multiple years: the RFP closes in early June, vendor demonstrations and partner evaluation will follow, and Marrow's slide showed a conservative estimate for phased rollouts beginning in late 2028, with the county's existing SAP support ending in 2027 (with paid extension options through 2029).

Why it matters: the ERP system is the county's core business platform for payroll, accounts payable, budgeting and position control. Marrow said project success requires business analysts, project managers, systems architects and other dedicated staff; the manager's recommended budget includes a request for new positions in IT and finance to support the initiative.

Implementation risk and mitigation: Marrow and manager Hager said the project will require coordinated participation across departments and external implementation partners. The county is simultaneously improving disaster recovery and cybersecurity (a secondary data center was opened after a prior malware incident). Staff emphasized the need for experienced implementation resources and an operational assessment (IT and finance are executing an assessment) to refine staffing and governance before full implementation.

Next steps: staff will review vendor proposals after June 3, hold demonstrations for shortlisted vendors, and return with a firm vendor and implementation partner recommendation for board consideration. Commissioners asked about timeline strain and staffing needs; staff answered they will return with refined cost and resource requests once a finalist is selected.

Ending: IT described the ERP replacement as a foundational investment intended to modernize county operations, improve reporting and reduce future technical debt, but cautioned it is a major organizational change requiring sustained board and executive support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Durham BOCC Budget Work Session May 20th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","IT reported the county has issued an ERP RFP to replace its legacy SAP system; staff said the effort will be multi-year and requires additional program staff to manage risk and integrate finance, HR and procurement functions.","taxTitle","Durham County, North Carolina","taxId",5765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646134,"Durham County keeps Cigna for 2025'26 health plan after RFP; pharmacy guarantees reduce projected cost",782,11491000,12273000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a&start=11491&end=12273","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a/thumbnail_11491000.jpg","/articles/6646134/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-County-keeps-Cigna-for-202526-health-plan-after-RFP-pharmacy-guarantees-reduce-projected-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646134-0ac2ad5762df2d508e10c99f87216858/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724698&Signature=Rrd9Y9I2L5uQgcdvcTvDv90v46~1VdaWg7kipnO1QZ1hLs-cuJGmmJcK7agENZc9cjIOlhYeQz9dDvebduAOz-PruxXRWfUWnZfDfgnt~mHevx3Y~j2Z1zdKOC8CrjlPtOeR0OUndvE6OGzy3N7Br-hVeHo9wi1hTl~-LFalglc4AXva25Lo8AXjI7erN9siDQg8BFtAKhtKuTSSK1eIbCh-mykluwC4G4jreL6tXxzrs201~qwd0UUB~fULxQF6Qkqlv4N1c2fSJLAcEiWaelcmJsdBHp6i6TqT8SrqfQ1PctBn-7iXpy5d4yEo4UqholkWux9SPXGLFwy-45azgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham County benefits staff told the Board of Commissioners on May 13 that a competitive request for proposals (RFP) covering medical administration, pharmacy benefit management and stop-loss insurance produced better pricing and stronger performance guarantees from incumbent Cigna.

Chief human-resources and benefits staff said the county keeps a self-funded medical plan where the county pays claims below a stop-loss threshold and buys stop-loss insurance for catastrophic claims (current attachment point $225,000). The county received multiple proposals for medical administration, pharmacy benefits and stop-loss coverage and evaluated total cost, provider network access and member disruption.

Staff reported the renewed Cigna proposal included materially stronger pharmacy cost guarantees and no so-called \"lasers\" (individual claim exclusions) on renewal; they estimated about $2 million in pharmacy-related cost reductions from the new contract. Cigna also proposed increased wellness funding and service guarantees that staff said reduced member disruption by allowing continuity of provider networks.

Why it matters: benefits are among the largest nonpayroll costs in the recommended budget. Staff told commissioners that employer-paid benefits are increasing by roughly $6.3 million for 2025'26 and that the largest driver is overall claim experience, an aging employee population and high-cost specialty medications (for example GLP-1 weight-loss/diabetes drugs). The county plans utilization-management and prior-authorization changes for GLP-1 medications effective July 1 to limit inappropriate use for weight loss and to manage program cost.

Plan design and employee contributions: the county currently offers a two-tiered medical plan (a lower-cost base plan and a buy-up option with lower deductibles). Staff said the base employee-only contribution remains competitive in peer benchmarking and that the buy-up option is paid partially by employees who choose it. The county also provides an HRA credit to participating employees who complete a biometric screening and wellness activities.

Next steps and board requests: staff said they will provide additional detail on dental and vision trend questions raised by commissioners and agreed to follow up with specific cost-savings numbers by plan tier, the count of employees who purchased the buy-up option, and participation metrics for wellness programs including the county's on-site clinic and Choose-to-Move program.

Ending: Commissioners thanked benefits staff for the work; staff stressed the county's aim to preserve a competitive benefits package while containing cost growth through RFP competition, targeted utilization management and expanded wellness and clinic use.","After a competitive RFP, county staff recommended staying with Cigna for the self-funded health plan and securing improved pharmacy cost guarantees; staff warned that medical claim frequency, high-cost specialty drugs and stop-loss renewals are driving projected benefit cost increases of roughly $6.3 million for 2025'26.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646139,"Durham County budget office recommends 3.5¢ property tax increase as revenues slow",3816,644000,4460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a&start=644&end=4460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a/thumbnail_644000.jpg","/articles/6646139/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-County-budget-office-recommends-35-property-tax-increase-as-revenues-slow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646139-bdd59bd1df6ee5fea173fc8141693cde/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724698&Signature=JXYThU1-S2xNnqr-A76tTJu44i3p-4-pjfpXAP6NI9xTpOosZxNXlPYgBCJJ8cTfOV~vgpDl15M8MCx20Qp7YDHnisYd9BXFFdRgrWYxt-wpiNlc4PXTpNnAWg6mhSGPrMjJLBDNu9NnskfSjmOd6G0nPDOgtmfY6sYHH3zj~CPDae8WWRNQHzH9OEnYJe00L-HV15kcRrqLOvOq2iZv3rrpw1KDtvDnmwmuxCdJfq0kv6vuj-kJwnDR9PgTN-zY5OCl6GQe0cds-Pt--xChPdgpF~j2Ed2CB~dFZY6U-FB6PiWy2VMrlEAVMCwy0RbO3i9XSwVEmafB6s3i~Wmgew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham County budget staff presented the manager's recommended 2025'26 budget on May 13, recommending a 3.5'cent increase in the property tax rate to close the gap between constrained revenues and rising expenditures.

Budget Director Keith Lane said the county's general fund budget is about $688 million and that total county budgets across funds exceed $1 billion. Lane identified slowed revenue growth in sales tax and occupancy tax, a loss of an \"oxy\" state tax source that will drop to zero in two years, and sharply rising expenditures for Durham Public Schools (DPS), employee benefits and debt service as the primary drivers of the shortfall.

Lane summarized the numeric tradeoffs the county faces: without a tax rate change staff estimate roughly $15.3 million in new recurring revenue for 2025'26; the manager's proposal adds the 3.5¢ tax rate increase to generate roughly $29.9 million more, producing about $47.7 million in added revenue when combined with natural property growth. That request includes a 1¢ increase dedicated to capital financing and debt service tied to the 2022 general obligation bond program, Lane said.

The recommendation would raise the county's combined general fund and capital financing-rate from the revenue-neutral rate of 51.92¢ to 55.42¢ per $100 of assessed value. Lane provided an example showing the county estimate that a 3.5¢ increase would add about $105 a year in property tax for a $300,000 home.

Why it matters: commissioners were told that DPS accounted for roughly 33% of the general fund and requested a $10.35 million increase for 2025'26. Lane said employee benefit costs are increasing by about $6.3 million and merit increases will add another roughly $5.3 million. Lane characterized the budget choice as a mix of limiting some departmental requests, reallocating positions and asking the public to absorb part of the gap through the proposed property tax rate change.

Supporting details and context: Lane walked commissioners through five-year trends showing sales tax and other nonproperty revenue sources have flattened or declined from recent pandemic-era peaks; he said local occupancy tax is projected to fall by roughly $1.6 million this year due to a state law change and then decline further in subsequent years. Lane also reviewed fund balance history, noting a decline from about 46% in earlier years to roughly the low-30% range today and that staff plan to keep fund balance and fiscal stability as the top priority.

Board reaction and next steps: Commissioners asked for follow-up details on fund-balance policy, DPS presentations and the property revaluation impact on taxpayers. Tax Administrator Kiara Doyle, who briefed the board separately in the same meeting, described the 2025 reappraisal and reported a countywide median sales ratio near 100% and more than 5,000 pending appeals as of the presentation.

Lane and staff said the board will have additional budget work sessions and a public hearing later in May. Lane and Manager Hager signaled they will return with more granular options for narrowing the gap, including potential reductions and the manager's recommended adjustments.

Ending: Commissioners agreed to continue the work-session schedule and to receive detailed follow-ups on fund balance, DPS funding, and tax-rate implications before formal budget votes later in June.","Budget staff told Durham County commissioners the manager's recommended 2025'26 budget relies on a 3.5'cent property tax rate increase (2.5¢ to the general fund and 1¢ for debt service) to close a roughly $40'million gap driven by slower sales tax, reduced occupancy tax and rising expenses for Durham Public Schools, employee benefits and debt.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646126,"Durham Pre-K faces flat local funding; early-education leaders warn cuts would reduce seats",2021,17195000,19216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a&start=17195&end=19216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402433-e562982108559114b110039b86f2b61a/thumbnail_17195000.jpg","/articles/6646126/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-Pre-K-faces-flat-local-funding-early-education-leaders-warn-cuts-would-reduce-seats","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646126-c5b34d6be5a9cf30fd3a81a47fac95a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724698&Signature=MhtN-Lc8cKOaWoMzZTnRDay8V-JZwtWs0LktvWerIJZrs5Ny98Tsw7ufE5I7~Sf-toRz4B8Okmf6GoiEBtB8DLmxzmSER87Ub5tF~E1ZoR2JGDceChdMd2rE23kuWwV7KRFGdJ~ZYMd28p2gcJaeBuXmrHTpbt4g984mLIUb9gYXpWQftOFEkb-JwpRv0OZeyzKR2OKsPi-EXwgtyitkRLhEPkzZ7cLw9eNO3V9TobARR1VA4V9Y6bj6TXBgGF4MbEgjGv2wxZ~TbhF2yrSjNMOADoYhAW95y2YGlWjstPKowUF~Zip3wlL4QheLjOEOoBStaLMM9vy~vymx7q~xog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durham County's long-term investment in public preschool was the last major budget topic on the May 13 agenda. County extension and Durham Pre-K partners described seat growth, teacher training and quality gains while warning that flat local funding for 2025'26 would not keep pace with rising costs.

Early-years contractor Early Years (formerly Child Care Services Association) and county extension staff reported that Durham Pre-K has increased the share of credentialed early-education teachers: staff said roughly 79% of Durham Pre-K teachers and instructional assistants hold early-childhood degrees, and the county program earned a national-level quality recognition.

Staff asked commissioners to consider the manager's recommended allocation (the manager recommended roughly $8 million total for preschool-support items in 2025'26, including Whitted School funding routed through DPS). Early Years and extension staff said the portion directly administered for Durham Pre-K seats would be flat compared with the request; they reported that inflation and required increases to teacher pay and benefits mean flat funding would likely reduce seats or require strategic cuts to program supports.

Why it matters: Durham Pre-K is part of a braided system of public preschool that includes county-funded seats, Head Start, NC Pre-K and DPS programs. Partners said the county's investment funds not only classroom seats but coaching, technical assistance and workforce supports such as the Durham Early Educator Apprenticeship and a summer early-educator academy.

Program details: staff described 40 apprentices in the county's apprenticeship program and 22 on-site mentors, plus a newly funded summer academy with heavy demand (tens of applicants for a limited number of slots). Early-years staff said they will prioritize maintaining coaching and salaries, and the governance committee provided staff with a ranked set of program-service priorities to use if local funding must be reduced.

Wrap care and enrollment: staff noted that wrap/after-school care remains a barrier for some families and that most private and Head Start providers do offer wrap care; staff said Durham Pre-K currently funds wrap care only for a small group of high-need families and that additional capacity for after-school services is a separate county challenge.

Ending: Commissioners praised the program and asked staff to continue work on data-sharing and outcome metrics; staff said a data-sharing agreement with DPS is now in place and that the first linked student-level outcomes will be shared after school-year close.","Early childhood partners told commissioners Durham Pre-K has expanded teacher qualifications and program quality but that recommended flat local funding for 2025'26 will not cover inflation and required staff benefit increases, creating a potential loss of preschool seats unless additional funds are found.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Durham IT outlines SAP replacement plan; county to issue ERP RFP with 2029 end-of-support deadline in view

Durham County keeps Cigna for 2025'26 health plan after RFP; pharmacy guarantees reduce projected cost

Durham County budget office recommends 3.5¢ property tax increase as revenues slow

Durham Pre-K faces flat local funding; early-education leaders warn cuts would reduce seats