UPDATED: Sussex County FY 2027 Budget Approved
UPDATED – 06/16/26 – The Sussex County Council has approved a $300-million budget for FY 2027. Several members of the public spoke during the public hearings – with comments in thanks to the Council for the inclusion of a building permit surcharge for the public school districts inn Sussex County and Sussex Tech. While Council Vice President John Rieley has reservations on the impact fee, he did vote with the rest of the Council to approve the fee.
Firefighters from Sussex County spoke on the funding included for the fire service in the budget, which while they are thankful for what they are receiving, they say it is not enough – and that what they do is a matter of life or death. Councilman McCarron commented that the Council agrees that funding for the fire service is important to the County – and they and county staff have listened to the SCDFA’s concerns, but funding for the fire service will continue to be an on-going conversation.
The 4 ordinances that make up the FY 2027 budget – approving the assessment rolls for the sewer and water districts, service and other fees and charges for all Sussex County water and sewer districts, the school surcharge and FY 2027 budget – were each approved with a unanimous vote.
Additional information from Sussex County Government:
The adopted budget keeps the County’s property tax rate unchanged, at 2.14 cents per $100 of assessed value, set last year following Delaware’s court-ordered reassessment project. While the spending plan remains consistent in terms of funding familiar local government services, the adopted budget takes on new, unprecedented roles and initiatives for County government in the year ahead, including the creation of a first-ever building permit surcharge for the independent public school districts, as well as a centralized billing and ambulance purchase cost share program for local fire and EMS companies.
“While this budget makes significant new investments in fire service and education, it does so without abandoning our long-standing commitment to responsible, efficient government,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “We’re focusing resources where the community needs them most.”
The overall budget is up nearly $15 million, or 5.2 percent, over the current year, fueled largely by capital expenses for public wastewater improvements; the general fund portion of the budget that pays for day-to-day operations, meantime, is rising just $4 million, or 3.6 percent.
The budget is supported by a mix of income streams, including property taxes, realty transfer taxes, sewer service fees, building permit fees, and document recording fees, some of which are increasing in next year’s budget, including for sewer and water services, as well as new and adjusted fees for the Geographic Information, Engineering, and Planning & Zoning offices. That revenue, in turn, funds a wealth of local services, including paramedics and 911 dispatchers, public wastewater treatment, building inspection, and public libraries, among other services.
Among the highlights in the now-adopted FY2027 budget, the plan includes $74.6 million for wastewater infrastructure, including expansion of two treatment plants, new service areas, increased capacity, and other upgrades to the County utility systems; $7.6 million for local fire companies and ambulance squads to help with operational costs, including paid EMT salaries, as well as an additional $1.6 million for a centralized ambulance billing and unit purchase cost-share plan to aid basic life support (BLS) services; $7.4 million to purchase open space and farmland, preserving it for the future; up to $7 million, depending on market activity, in new funding as a result of a new $5 per $1,000 construction value surcharge on most building permits that will be directed to local school districts for capacity-related capital needs; increased funding, from $5.8 million to $6.1 million, for the County’s contract with the State of Delaware for supplemental state police troopers assigned to Sussex County; $1.25 million for affordable housing initiatives, including rehabilitation for low-income households, as well as homebuying settlement assistance; and $1 million for municipalities providing local law enforcement services. There is also funding, totaling $3.4 million, for new paramedic stations in the Dewey Beach, Lincoln, and Milton areas.
County Finance Director Gina A. Jennings said the budget, in spite of continually increasing demands on services, and subsequent rising costs, is a reflection of balanced spending with sound fiscal management, a mainstay of County government finances over the years.
Council President Doug Hudson applauded the budget team for helping County Council tackle issues, like emergency services and public education, that are priorities for constituents.
“The public wants to see their tax dollars hard at work and producing results,” President Hudson said. “This budget does that. It funds the services people have come to depend on and expect, while also looking forward to meet the needs of future generations.”
Copies of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, as well as the accompanying budget presentation, can be downloaded from the County website at www.sussexcountyde.gov/county-budget.
In other Council action on Tuesday, John Williamson was reappointed to the Board of Adjustment. Three members of the Planning & Zoning Commission were also reappointed – Gregory Scott Collins, John Passwaters, David Pettyjohn.
In Old Business, Conditional Use No 2631 will have a public hearing rescheduled. The applicant, Zion Church Ventures, LLC. made that request, which was approved by the Council. Conditional Use No 2614 – for Vines Creek, LLC was approved with a unanimous vote. The records remained open for Change of Zone No 2053, Conditional Use No 2540 and Conditional Use No 2604 – and have since closed. The Council has now closed the publi record for each – no votes were taken. The applications will be revisited at a later date.
A reminder, County offices will be closed Friday for Juneteenth.
The County Council will meet next Tuesday at 10am in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA
============================================================================
ORIGINAL STORY – 06/15/26 – The Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday morning. There is a public hearing scheduled for 10:15am for comment on the proposed FY 2027 budget and related ordinances for county water and sewer and new fees – including a school surcharge on building permit applications to generate revenue for capital improvements for local school districts and Sussex Tech.
The Council will also revisit one Change of Zone and 4 Conditional Use applications in Old Business.
There are no afternoon land use application public hearings scheduled this week.
The Council meeting begins at 10am in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
FY 2027 Budget Presentation (PDF)