Community Services director outlines $29M FY27 request, warns of library and youth program cuts

Carrie Casey, general manager of the New Castle County Department of Community Services, told the county council on May 7 that the department is requesting $29,000,108 for fiscal year 2027 and that the request represents a roughly 5.9% decrease from FY26.

Casey said the department built the budget to protect core services — ‘‘our library system, our core youth programs, our senior services, our recreation and sports programs, and our housing programs’’ — but that achieving the necessary reductions required difficult tradeoffs. ‘‘We propose reductions in part time library and community resource staffing,’’ she said, and added that some community programming would be eliminated, paused or reduced and that nonessential operating costs would be deferred.

The presentation listed specific impacts: a proposed 17.3% reduction to the library part‑time budget (about $452,100), a 31% reduction to community services part‑time staffing (about $901,010), a $350,000 request to fund operations at the New Market Street Library (referred to as NOMA), and the unfunding of five general‑fund positions (four library positions and one community services administrator) to reduce costs by roughly $584,000–$594,698. Casey said grant‑funded positions would remain because of contractual obligations tied to federal funding.

Casey identified program cuts that would affect the county’s youth services: $191,200 in after‑school programming across locations including Edgemoor Gardens, Ab Jones Senior Center, Redding Middle School (Middletown) and a Garfield Park basketball program is proposed not to be funded in FY27. On special events, Casey said the department is eliminating the special events fund and will ‘‘reimagine’’ events with smaller formats and greater reliance on sponsorships; she cited a $75,000 sponsorship target for an ice cream festival to avoid county funds.

Council members pressed Casey about specific reductions and mitigation strategies. Councilman Hollins praised the department’s grant work and sought confirmation of the five unfunded positions; Casey confirmed the changes and reiterated that the department had cut internally before asking contract partners to share sacrifice. Councilman Kaneko and others asked why contract libraries were cut by 10%; Casey said internal reductions and book‑budget cuts (about 43%) forced the department to reduce external contracts.

Casey also described capital priorities and operational changes: a proposed Rockwood Museum chairlift (~$353,500) to improve accessible access and an arena footing improvement at Carousel Park to expand programming. She noted Carousel currently maintains 27 horses and that staffing and herd size would be adjusted to meet budget constraints while retaining core services.

Casey closed with performance metrics intended to justify core protections: ‘‘nearly 1,500,000 library visits’’ and ‘‘more than 160,000 residents served through community resources,’’ and emphasized staff commitment to supporting vulnerable residents.

The council did not take a final vote on the department request at the hearing; members discussed potential amendments and next steps in the finance committee before the May finalization of the FY27 budget.