Speak Up: Sussex County officials present record $278M budget proposal

Sussex County’s proposed fiscal year 2022 budget is one for the record books. Last week, county officials unveiled their proposed $278 million budget — the most significant in county history. It reflects the county’s emergence from the pandemic, its conservative budget approach and funding through the American Rescue Plan. “As we plan the FY 2022 budget, we must operate a government that can meet the current demand of its residents and visitors, while being conscientious that the economy can always change for the worse,” said Sussex County Administrator Todd Lawson. “This budget has been created with balance in mind, not just (that) revenues equal expenses, but also quality services equal demand and reasonable expenses equal sustainability.” The proposed budget, just over $100 million more than the fiscal year 2021 plan, will fund numerous services, including grant-in-aid, sewer-service expansion and public safety — paramedics, 911 dispatchers and the new public safety complex at the county-owned Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown.

• More than $41 million in additional funding over the present year, to $72.3 million, for wastewater infrastructure, including new sewer mains, increased treatment capacity and other upgrades to the county’s utility systems. More than $6 million for construction of a consolidated public safety complex that would expand the Emergency Operations Center to accommodate the county’s Emergency Medical Services’ administrative offices and training facilities. Increased funding, from $3.4 million to $3.7 million, for the county’s contract with the state for the 22 supplemental state police troopers assigned to Sussex County. This should be on the backs of the developers and new homeowners moving into Sussex County! They keep approving every development project, without thinking about the infrastructure! — Cal William