Wilmington, DE – County Executive Matt Meyer applauded County Council for passing the Fiscal Year 2020 New Castle County operating and capital budgets tonight.
"Thanks to the support of County Council we will build on programs like Jobs Now, which has 9,870 job opportunities in our land use pipeline, and like Hero Help and the Police Connections Alliance, that reduce crime and provide support to those most in need. Tonight is an endorsement of our continued investment in services that improve quality of life and keep our tax rates low."
The Fiscal Year 2020 budget builds on the historic success in public safety, improved public services, and government efficiency achieved in over the past two years, including:
- Supported 9,800 jobs through the county’s JobsNow initiative;
- Attracted leading companies to create jobs in New Castle County, including Wegmans, CSC, Incyte, DOT Foods and Del Monte Fresh Produce;
- Reduced the number of vacant properties by over 400 in 400 days (30% reduction) and collected $1 million in taxes and fees through the Vacant Spaces to Livable Places initiative;
- Collected a record $16 million in delinquent taxes and fees;
- 44% reduction in shootings, 19% reduction in robberies and 18% reduction in burglaries in 2018, which contributed to a 7.5% decrease in crime overall since 2016;
- Launched the innovative Police/Connections Alliance and expanded Hero Help initiative which has diverted hundreds of individuals in mental health crisis and those struggling with addition from the criminal justice system to social services; and
- 100 lives saved of individuals whose hearts were not beating when 911 was called.
Click HERE to learn more about how the Fiscal Year 2020 budget builds on historic progress in public safety and improved public services.
The Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget passed tonight includes funding to “overfill” county paramedic staffing levels by 15 positions to accommodate the largest and most diverse county paramedic training class in county history and increases the county’s support for the fire service by $200,000, to $4.45 million, to fund a portion of fire company operating costs.
The Fiscal Year 2020 Capital Budget includes funding to support a variety of maintenance needs, safety programs and service improvements, including:
- The Public Safety vest protection program;
- Design and construction of the new Southern regional library;
- Design of pedestrian safety improvements along the Route 9 corridor;
- Countywide park enhancements, including renovations and utility upgrades at Surratte Pool, Delcastle Park bleachers and Jester Park walking path, and:
- Sewer improvement projects across the county to reduce sewer overflows, increase capacity and expand service
Click HERE to learn more about the Fiscal Year 2020 budget and review county financial reports.
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Contact: Jason Miller, Director of Communications, 302-545-1462