The budget for FY26 must be adopted by June 30. (Photo by thanksforbuying/Adobe Stock)
Sussex County officials on Tuesday introduced a proposed $285.1 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, a plan that increases overall spending while significantly lowering the property tax rate, the first such adjustment in more than three decades.
Driven largely by capital investments in wastewater infrastructure and supported by increased assessed property values, the proposed budget reflects a 7.3% increase — or nearly $20 million — over the current year’s spending. Still, the County is aiming to keep operations modest, with the general fund growing just 4.4%.
The most notable change in the plan is a major cut to the property tax rate, which would drop from 44.5 cents to 2.14 cents per $100 of assessed value — the result of a recent court-ordered property reassessment. The lower rate is designed to keep overall property tax collections “revenue neutral,” despite new construction adding to the tax base.
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“There’s a lot to take in with this year’s budget, but the bottom line is Sussex County continues to deliver the best services at the best possible value,” said County Administrator Todd F. Lawson, who presented to County Council the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. “Through all the change, that’s the one constant our constituents can count on.”
Key Investments in Budget
The budget proposal includes substantial investments in infrastructure, public safety, and community development:
- $76.7 million for wastewater system upgrades, including treatment plant expansions and new service areas.
- $7.4 million for farmland and open space preservation.
- $5.8 million to fund 25 supplemental state police troopers — up from $4.6 million last year.
- $2.4 million for planning and construction of paramedic stations in Dewey Beach, Lincoln, and Milton.
- $6 million to support local fire companies and ambulance squads.
- $1.25 million for affordable housing initiatives, including home rehab and settlement assistance.
- Increased municipal law enforcement support, growing from $920,000 to $1 million.
Some modest fee increases are also proposed, including a $12 annual hike for sewer services and a $33 increase for unmetered water users. Fees for services from the Sheriff’s Office, GIS, and Engineering departments are also slated for adjustment.
Council President Doug Hudson commended the budget team, calling the plan a “balanced” and “team-driven” effort.
“That’s no easy feat, trying to satisfy a lot of competing interests, but this team always seems to pull it off,” President Hudson said. “It’s not magic. Just good teamwork and expertise. We appreciate it, and I know the taxpayers do, too.”
Public Input Invited
A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, in the County Administrative Offices at 2 The Circle, Georgetown.
Residents can also submit feedback via email to budget@sussexcountyde.gov.
By law, the budget must be adopted by June 30. A full copy of the proposal and presentation materials is available online at here.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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