Sussex County presents $61.7 million FY2027 budget, proposes tax-rate options and 2% COLA

County Administrator Richard Douglas presented the proposed FY2026–27 operating budget on April 16, saying "the proposed operating budget totals $61.7 million," a 1.38% increase over the prior year. He recommended maintaining a $31 million general fund total, noted a $350,000 rise in debt service tied to school and courthouse projects, and proposed setting aside one cent of real-estate tax for identified school capital needs.

Douglas told the Board the latest reassessment shows residential values up more than 30% and agricultural values rising about 18–20%, and described two scenarios for the property tax rate. Based on conservative reassessment projections, staff showed a decrease in the advertised rate from 53¢ to 49¢ per $100 of assessed value; Douglas said a rate above the 44¢ projected revenue-neutral rate "would require a public hearing. It will be considered a tax increase." He also recommended a two percent (2%) cost-of-living adjustment for all employees to align with state figures.

The proposed budget includes a package of capital and equipment requests: a $20,000 countywide network upgrade; a $96,000 E911 software upgrade; $25,000 for a Live Scan fingerprinting system for the Sheriff's Office; $17,000 for credentialing-required fencing; $79,000 for five air packs for volunteer fire departments (five of 10 requested); and $8,600 for a courthouse rescue stretcher. Douglas said there were no new ongoing positions proposed and that department requests totaling about $300,000 were included without recommending new recurring salary lines.

The Board scheduled further budget review and a public hearing for May 14 and set work sessions for April 29 and dates to be determined. Members discussed departmental consultation and whether department heads had been sufficiently involved; the administrator said the process met applicable state code. The Board did not take final action on the budget at the April 16 meeting.