Durham cuts funds for open space, nonprofits

DURHAM -- Durham County commissioners voted 4-1 Monday night to cut nonprofit funding by 3 percent for the current fiscal year and to cut the entire $550,000 appropriation for open space and farmland acquisition.

Citizen comments and discussion took more than 45 minutes and was devoted in part to what to use $75,000 related to a property sale.

The money came from the Eno River Association's sale of a 14-acre tract to Eno River State Park. Durham County had provided $75,000 toward the purchase of a conservation easement on the tract in 1998.

Commissioners decided to ask County Manager Mike Ruffin come back with a recommendation. Earlier, they talked about whether the money should go to open space, human services or the animal shelter or be spread among several agencies taking budget cuts.