Sussex County Council adopts budget, raises water and sewer assessment rates and sheriff fees

Sussex County Council adopted the county’s annual operating budget and several rate and fee ordinances at its June 17, 2025 meeting, adopting assessment rules for water and sewer districts, new district rates and increases to sheriff fees.

Staff member Gina Jennings told council the assessment rolls list equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) and billable front footage for sewer and water districts; the council adopted those assessment rules for the 2025–2026 billing period. Jennings also summarized proposed rate changes: she said water would increase by $33 per year to $450 per EDU and that sewer would increase by $12 to $3.52 per EDU; connection charges for expansion projects were listed at $10,700 per connection for some areas. Jennings noted district‑specific changes (for example Winding Creek Water and Briarwood Estates are new areas coming online and Pintail Point’s charge increases for additional costs).

Council also adopted an ordinance increasing various sheriff fees; Jennings said the sheriff’s office had not adjusted fees in 15 years and recommended modest increases (typically $10–$15) to cover higher personnel, fuel and postage costs. The ordinance amending chapter 62, article 4, section 62‑15 of the Sussex County Code passed on roll call.

On the county budget, Jennings presented a condensed budget summary and said the overall budget increased about 7 percent driven primarily by capital projects timing. She said sewer capital projects rose by $24,000,000 (about 46% increase) due largely to septic‑elimination work and treatment expansion, with much of that funded by connection fees. The county will set a revenue‑neutral tax rate of 2.14; Jennings said the county is using reserves (including realty transfer tax reserves) for one‑time expenditures but will draw less reserves this year (about $1,200,000 less) because of favorable interest revenue and other funding. She identified a $550,000 vac truck in machinery purchases and said ARPA funds must be spent by the federal deadline in late 2026.

Jennings said two new user fees are proposed in the budget: a $50‑per‑hour charge for repeated subdivision name research and a construction‑phase design modification fee when inspectors document illegal or misplaced connections and require new designs. Two public comments submitted by email (from Sandy Walter and Virgil Emery) were entered into the record; there were no in‑person or remote speakers on the budget or the rates items. Council voted to adopt the budget and related ordinances; councilmembers recorded their votes on the record and the motions carried.