NEW CASTLE – New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer saw his proposed $319m FY2023 budget passed unanimously 12-0 this evening. County Executive Meyer delivered his proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget to Council remotely from the newly constructed Appoquinimink Library in Middletown, DE on Tuesday March 22nd. The FY23 budget address can be viewed here.
The FY23 budget will include no new County fees or taxes for 2023.
“We are thrilled of the passing of the FY2023 budget,” said County Executive Meyer. “Today we see the pressures of inflation, of rising costs and gas prices. We are not immune to these increased costs and pressures amidst demands for increased services in your County government. We are very appreciative of the hard work by New Castle County Council, to the general managers, county employees and to everyone who makes this a successful process to deliver a budget with no new tax increase.”
“Budgets are a balance between obligations and amenities,” Third District Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick said. “Some amenities, such as improved parks and more land preservation are somethings that we can, and did, all agree on. I look forward to working with the Council and Executive office on achieving these goals in the coming year.”
“I am proud to be a part of a government that works so hard to maintain fiscal responsibility while addressing the needs of those that have chosen to live in New Castle County,” budget co-chair Councilman George Smiley said.
Highlights of the approved budget include more pickleball courts, including eight to be added in Glasgow Park this year, upgraded playground equipment, with an increase in the number of play structures being replaced each year, and the repaving of pathways, including the heavily used Delcastle Park perimeter pathway.
New Castle County will also increase emphasis on land preservation, with $2.5 million allocated to protecting open space.
Another critical component of the 2023 budget is the inclusion of the County’s new paid family leave policy which will offer 12 weeks of paid parental leave to employees starting in the new fiscal year, which will help recruit and retain a 21st century workforce.
The budget also emphasized continued support to successful New Castle County programs like Vacant Spaces Livable Places which has turned nearly 800 vacant residential properties into livable homes; a 59% decrease in vacant properties in the area and support for New Castle County Police’s Hero Help program, whose goal is to divert people from incarceration to substance abuse or mental health treatment opportunities. The program saw almost 600 individuals take advantage of the program.
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