On a week when the New Castle County Council rejected a 15 percent property tax increase, Sussex County officials rolled out a proposed 2019 fiscal year budget that comes with no property tax hike and funds improved internet access and other programs.
County officials unveiled the proposed $177 million budget this week that uses increased revenue and cash reserves. A $6 a year increase in sewage fees was proposed.
“The plan reflects the need for significant investment in the year ahead to keep up with the demand for critical local services and infrastructure, including police, paramedics, wastewater, and continued efforts to expand broadband Internet service to more rural parts of the county, a high priority for Sussex officials, a release stated.
“This budget does a lot of heavy lifting to fund our general day-to-day costs, but it makes serious long-term investments for Sussex County’s future,” said County Administrator Todd F. Lawson, who presented to County Council the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Sussex County has been aided by an influx of residents and new construction that boosts property tax and real estate transfer tax revenues. The county’s property taxes remain among the the lowest in the region.
Highlights include
- Increased funding for the county’s contract with the State of Delaware for 22 state police troopers to be assigned to Sussex County, up about $200,000 from $2.9 million in fiscal 2018 to $3.1 million next year. Much of the county outside municipalities is covered by State Police.
- Additional funding, approximately $700,000, for local volunteer fire companies to fund operations, with $500,000 of that earmarked to help with rising ambulance service costs;
- A $1.2 million allocation to further the county’s efforts to expand broadband Internet to residents and businesses in hard-to-reach rural parts of the county;
- $1 million to preserve open space and farmland that could otherwise be developed;
- Funding to build a new paramedic station in Seaford, as well as to purchase property for a new freestanding EMS station in the Dagsboro area;
- More than $40 million in capital funding to pay for various sewer improvements and expansion projects.
- Approximately $2.4 million to continue development of roads and other infrastructure in the County’s Delaware Coastal Business Park, which has already landed two major tenants since property was added to the adjacent County industrial park in early 2017;
- Funding for new positions to meet increased demand in the Building Code, Emergency Operations, Planning & Zoning, and Utility Engineering offices;
- No change in current property tax rates or building permit fees; however, water and sewer fees will increase approximately $6 each annually.
The County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal during its 10 a.m. meeting Tuesday, June 19 in council chambers at the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown.
The public can comment in person on that date, or submit comments through the web at budget@sussexcountyde.gov. By law, Council must adopt a budget by June 30.
To view a copy of the proposed the Fiscal 2019 budget, as well as a budget presentation, visit www.sussexcountyde.gov/county-budget.
