New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry signs the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on Thursday, June 12. (Photo: WITN Channel 22)
New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry signed his first budget into law Thursday morning following unanimous approval by County Council the night before. The $454 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 passed 13–0.
“Thank you all for joining us today as I officially signed the FY 26 budget for New Castle County,” Henry said during a public signing ceremony.“When I proposed this budget back in April, we set out to accomplish a few clear goals: prioritize core county services, invest in our county facilities and workforce, ensure affordability for residents, and I am proud to say we delivered on that vision.”
The FY26 operating budget, totaling $371.25 million, is a 5.62% increase over the previous year. The capital budget, covering infrastructure and sewer projects, adds another $84.37 million.
Henry thanked members of County Council, particularly finance co-chairs John Cartier and George Smiley, along with Council President Monique Williams, for their support and collaboration.
“Their thoughtful deliberation, collaborative spirit and commitment to our shared priorities made this budget possible,” he said.
The approved tax rate for unincorporated New Castle County properties will be $0.1575 per $100 of assessed value for residential and $0.2380 for non-residential properties. Rates for properties within municipalities will vary depending on the services received.
Henry acknowledged the challenges of finalizing a budget while managing reassessment and transitioning into office.
“It’s tough for any administration transitioning into office to pull together a budget package,” he said. “But doing that while completing the first reassessment project in over 40 years presented unique challenges and I’m grateful to our partners on County Council for their help in tackling them.”
The budget aims to make visible improvements to parks, libraries, and community spaces, while also safeguarding essential operations.
“You’ll be able to see the difference in your everyday routine,” Henry said. “It ensures that public safety operations, the foundation of our community well-being, will be fully staffed and supported.”
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