New Castle County executive unveils $370 million FY26 budget with steep property tax rate cuts and one-time relief proposal

County Executive Marcus Henry delivered his first budget address to New Castle County Council, proposing a $370,000,000 operating budget and an $84,000,000 capital plan and outlining steps to respond to a countywide property reassessment and rising costs.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be here tonight to present the FY 26 budget for Newcastle County," Henry said, adding that he is "honored to stand before you in council's chambers as Newcastle County's first county executive of color." He said the budget seeks to preserve services while addressing workforce and cost-of-living pressures.

The nut of the proposal is a set of tax-rate adjustments tied to the reassessment the county completed after a 2020 Court of Chancery decision. Henry said the administration would lower the tax rate for residential properties in unincorporated areas from 80¢ per $100 of assessed value to 16¢ per $100, and reduce the nonresidential rate in unincorporated areas from $0.80 per $100 to $0.24 per $100. Henry said those changes are intended to be revenue neutral relative to projected collections under the new assessments.

Henry also said he signed an executive order to lower the threshold for pursuing vacant-property owners at sheriff sale from…