Sussex County budget: No property tax hike, spending increase for public safety

Sussex County's proposed budget calls for no increases in property taxes and pledges money to preserve land, expand broadband internet and increase funds for fire and emergency medical services.

The proposed $176.98 million budget was unveiled at the Sussex County Council meeting Tuesday.

“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 Todd Lawson, Sussex County administrator, in a release. “Our community and our economy are growing, and we must continue to do all that we can to meet the needs so Sussex County remains as attractive and competitive as it is today.”

Broken down for every dollar:

• 58 cents will go to public safety
• 13 cents will go to general governmental functions including County Council, administration, legal, finance and constitutional offices
• 14 cents will go toward libraries
• 6 cents will go toward special services including economic development, airport, engineering administration and public works
• 5 cents will go toward housing rehab and community support
• 4 cents will go toward code enforcement, planning and zoning and addressing

Here are some of the budget's highlights:

No increase in property taxes

For another year, Sussex County will not be raising property taxes on its residents.

However, water and sewer service fees are expected to rise.

Sewer service charges are expected to increase $6 per year, or 2.1 percent, to $292 per year.

Water service charges are expected to increase $6.24, or 2 percent, to $312 per year.

Increased spending for expanding broadband internet

Sussex County has taken steps recently to expand broadband internet throughout the county.

The proposed budget would call for $1.2 million to be allocated to help further the county's efforts to expand broadband internet to both residents and businesses in rural areas of the county.

Increased spending for public safety

The proposed budget has money for 22 additional Delaware State Troopers to be assigned to Sussex County.

That calls for an increase of $200,000 to $3.1 million for fiscal year 2019.

In addition to more troopers, the proposed budget also calls for an increase of $943,000 to be spent on paramedic and emergency preparedness operations.

The emergency operations center has a proposed budget of $3.62 million, while paramedic services has a proposed budget of $16.21 million.

There is $1.5 million worth of proposed capital improvement projects, including building a new EMS station near Seaford and $250,000 toward the design of a new public safety building.

About $700,000 more will be given to local volunteer fire companies as grants to help fund operations, with $500,00 of that earmarked to help with rising ambulance service costs.

In total, $4.29 million has been budget for grants to go toward fire services.

More money for sewer projects

Sussex County has tentatively budgeted $40.65 million to go toward sewer improvement projects.

This includes $21 million to serve as the county's contribution to the Rehoboth Beach outfall project.

According to county projections, spending is expected to go up for sewer projects over the years, with an anticipated $76.6 million expected to be spent on sewer projects in fiscal year 2020.

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