Town Council Goals

Every year the Town Council develops and approves goals that will guide Town Staff, boards and committees, and the Council itself in the coming year. Some goals are intended to span a longer horizon and so remain on the list from year to year.

2023-2024 Council Goals *
Adopted May 15, 2023
Mission
To provide ongoing stewardship for the Durham community including effective and efficient municipal services.

Core Values
Excellence, Integrity, Justice, Resilience, Respect, Transparency

Goals
Note: These goals are intended to convey a 1- to 5-year time horizon and assume but do not list all baseline activities.

Facilitate continued optimal functioning of Town government through continuous improvement, new efficiencies, waste reduction, and inter-agency collaboration.
Conduct planning and take steps as necessary to protect public health and safety and provide ongoing service continuity given the anticipated impacts of climate change, the post-pandemic era, and general operational challenges.
Pursue long-term economic strength and resiliency, anticipating the community’s, the region’s, and the nation’s economic characteristics and opportunities.
Task the Administrator with meeting the following:
a. Holding the updated (post revaluation) municipal tax rate at the 2023 level or less
b. Continue to make an effort to control spending, enhance revenues, broaden the tax base and
explore innovative ways to stabilize or reduce the municipal tax rate.

Pursue long-term environmental sustainability and resiliency, taking into account existing and predicted impacts of climate change in multiple areas including drinking water, agriculture, food, society, transportation, ecology, and economy.
Pursue long-term social resiliency and quality of life in Durham intended to strengthen the community in a welcoming and inclusive manner by supporting the needs of residents, families, and other identified stakeholders by offering a wide array of active and passive parks & recreation and library opportunities, programming, events, facilities, and publicly facing educational information celebrating the rich tapestry of Durham history.
Continue cooperative and collaborative efforts with UNH to enhance mutual intellectual, cultural, environmental, social, and economic benefits associated with hosting New Hampshire’s flagship state university.
Leverage town committees and subcommittees to develop tactical plans to align with the broader goals of the Council and encourage them to collaborate with each other and communicate as necessary with the community at large.