2026 Sussex County budget approved

June 20, 2025 5

A $285.1 million budget for fiscal year 2026 and related water, sewer and sheriff’s office fees were approved June 17 by Sussex County Council.

A series of ordinances to adopt the budget and fees were unanimously approved.

The budget total includes the general fund, capital projects, water and sewer funds, pension and American Rescue Plan Act expenditures.

Spending is up about $20 million, or 7.3%, driven largely by wastewater costs. The county will spend $76.7 million on wastewater infrastructure improvements, including expansion of two treatment plants, new service areas and increased capacity.

Much of the $19.4 million in increased spending in the budget resulted from one-time costs for upgrading and improving the county’s Inland Bays and Wolfe Neck Regional wastewater facilities.

The general fund portion of the budget that pays for day-to-day operations increased by $4 million, or 4.4%, according to a news release issued by the county.

The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 also spends more on farmland preservation, state police protection, and fire and ambulance services.

It is the first budget since a countywide assessment update completed earlier this year. The court-ordered update, the first since 1974, drastically increased the value of properties countywide, and council adjusted the tax rates to ensure that it did not generate additional revenue.

Fee increases are proposed, including $12 annually for sewer and $33 annually for unmetered water on public utility systems, and a $3,000 increase to the $7,700 cost of sewer connections. There are also new and adjusted fees for the sheriff’s, geographic information and engineering offices.

Sheriff’s fee increases were typically $10 or $15, county Finance Director Gina Jennings said.

Jennings had previously said 47% of the county’s nearly $103 million general fund revenues come from building-related sources, such as realty tax and building permits.

To view a copy of the proposed budget and accompanying budget presentation, go to sussexcountyde.gov/county-budget.