Sussex County introduces $126.7 million 2025 budget; public hearing set for April 23

The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners on March 26 introduced a $126,715,149.82 2025 county budget and set a public hearing for 6 p.m. April 23 at the County Administrative Center on Spring Street.

The budget was presented to the board by Elka (county staff member) and budget director Tony (county staff member) during the meeting; during a roll-call vote the resolution to introduce the budget passed with four “yes” votes and one abstention (Commissioner Allen Henderson).

The introduction matters because it begins a statutory public-inspection period and schedules the hearing at which taxpayers may object before the board considers final adoption. “We have to have at least 18 days for the public to do their inspection of the budget and, then we have our public hearing which will be on April 23,” Elka said during the presentation.

Nut graf: The introduced budget increases total appropriations about 3.19% from last year but keeps the county tax levy increase below 1% — listed in the presentation as 0.997% — by using fund balance, grants and other revenues. Commissioners said the plan seeks to hold down the property-tax burden while funding statutory obligations, capital needs and schools that rely on county support.

County staff described the fiscal picture in detail. The presentation summarized the county’s revenue mix and reserves: the 2024 year-end fund balance was described in the presentation as $22.8 million, about 18.10% of last year’s operating budget; the budget anticipates using fund balance this year and projects a fund-balance draw (the presentation referenced “utilizing 8.774 of fund balance” and an anticipated available fund balance of about $8.8 million). The board said it will continue to regenerate fund balance and use a mix of pay-as-you-go and limited bonding for capital projects.

The 2025 tax levy was presented at approximately $103.9 million; the ratable base used in the presentation was described as about $26.1 billion and an estimated county rate of $0.397 per $100 of assessed value. The board also presented a $13.7 million capital program focused on schools, bridges, libraries, facility improvements and vehicles.

Commissioner Director Chris Carney praised staff work on the months-long budget process and said the plan “continues to provide resources for county services during higher than average inflationary times while keeping the amount to be raised in taxes lower than the current inflation rate.” He added that strong fund balance supports the county’s double-A-plus credit rating.

Public comment before the vote included repeated appeals on property taxes. Ken Collins of Andover Township urged commissioners “to figure out how to reduce the property tax burden” on homeowners and requested more economic development and ratables to ease residents’ property-tax bills.

The board formally authorized the clerk to advertise the revenues and appropriation summary and post notice of the April 23 public hearing; that motion passed by roll call with the same voting pattern as the budget-introduction resolution. Final adoption will follow a public hearing and any subsequent board action.

Ending: The budget documents and the PowerPoint presentation will be posted on the county website once the budget is officially introduced. The board’s next step is the advertised public hearing on April 23, when residents may present objections or comments for the record.