By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Taxes will remain unchanged as will Sussex County’s commitment to public safety in a 2023 budget proposal crafted during global uncertainty and challenging inflationary times.

Unveiled publicly Tuesday, the county’s fiscal year 2023 budget proposal weighs in at $294.1 million, an overall increase of approximately $16.1 million from the current budget.

“Like so many organizations in today’s economy Sussex County is attempting to manage a volatile financial environment. The economic constraints, including rising inflation, supply chain limitations are having an effect on the county,” said County Administrator Todd Lawson Tuesday during the budget presentation.

“We’re not protected, as a government, from inflationary costs. You see this throughout the budget,” said Gina Jennings, County Finance Director/Chief Operating Officer.

The budget will support a variety of local services, including 911 dispatchers, paramedics, and local libraries, as well as various projects to expand sewer service and improve public safety. The yearly plan is the second in a row for the county that nears $300 million, again fueled in large part by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Again, the trend to support public safety remains paramount as 45% the county’s tax dollar go to public safety, Ms. Jennings said. County funding supports Sussex EMS paramedics, the Emergency Operations Center, local fire and ambulance departments, as well as additional state police troopers above the state allotment.

There is no proposed tax rate change. Thus, the county’s property tax rate will remain at 44.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, based on 1974 assessments.

The county is banking on reserves to balance the budget. Of the total $32.4 million in reserves to be utilized, all but two million are in real estate transfer tax reserves. As the largest revenue source, those transfer taxes at one time accounted for under 25% of county revenue. The percentage, now approaching 40%.

“We have to track this and understand that this is not a revenue source that we can rely on year after year,” said Ms. Jennings.

Mr. Lawson said that while the budget increase is driven by inflation, including fuel, insurance, equipment, utilities and supplies, county departmental staff “meticulously” trimmed any unnecessary spending.

Proposed FY2023 budget highlights include:

• $72.2 million for wastewater infrastructure, including new sewer mains, increased treatment capacity, and other upgrades to the county’s utility systems.

• $7.4 million earmarked to preserve open space and farmland that could otherwise be developed.

• $7.3 million to pay for the final construction phase of a consolidated public safety complex that will expand the Emergency Operations Center to accommodate the county’s Emergency Medical Services’ administrative offices and training facilities.

• Increased funding, from $3.6 million to $3.8 million, for the county’s contract with the State of Delaware for the 22 supplemental state police troopers – and the possibility of an additional officer – assigned to Sussex County.

• $3.4 million in funding to pay for the continuing court-ordered countywide reassessment of all properties.

• $1.5 million for the construction of a new paramedic station in the Millsboro area.

• Nearly $800,000 more, from $2 million to $2.8 million, for local volunteer fire companies with ambulance service to cover salaries for paid EMTs.

• Funding for 16 new positions, with most those for additional paramedics and 9-1-1 dispatchers.

• There are a number of fee increases, including $24 annually for sewer and $35 annually for water for public utility customers, as well as new or adjusted fees for a variety of land use services (change of zone, commercial site plan review, subdivision, and variance requests, etc.).