The 2024 Adopted Budget
Delaware County Council unanimously approved the County’s FY 2024 budget at the December 13 public meeting. Next year’s budget represents the County’s investment in the community it serves including investments in services to residents, County infrastructure, public safety, and in the County team who work to serve residents each day. It also reflects the reality of running a County in the wake of spiking inflation, addressing decades of underinvesting and deferred maintenance, and acknowledging the conclusion of access to federal COVID-19 relief funds.
The $358M operating budget increases the County’s current milage rate of 2.999 to 3.149. The increase equates to residents paying $38.19 more per year in County property taxes for a median home valued at $254, 683, for a total County real estate tax bill of $801.98.
The FY 2024 budget once again builds on Council’s commitment to significantly improve how Delaware County government works, how it provides services equitably, and how Council and the County team can work to make Delaware County a place where people want to live, operate a business, and visit.
Among the investments and challenges in the FY 2024 year’s budget are:
Addressing critical deferred maintenance as determined by the first countywide assessment of the status of County buildings and infrastructure
Investing in the pay and benefits packages to attract and retain qualified and talented employees in a highly competitive job market
Investing in our natural resources, parks, trails, and open space
Addressing ongoing and rising inflation. The U.S. Department of Labor reported the Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of basic items, increased 22% since 2014 which was the last County tax increase.
Council also noted that when the current majority was elected in November 2019, its predecessors decreased taxes, leaving the incoming Council with less revenue. The increase in the FY 2024 budget brings the County’s budget back to where it would have been if there had not been a decrease.
Delaware County Adopted 2024 Budget
FY2024 Proposed Budget Public Hearing (December 5, 2023)
A public hearing regarding the Proposed Budget was also held on December 5 during a special evening hearing. The first reading of the Budget Ordinance was held on December 5 during Council’s Agenda Meeting, and the second reading was held on December 13 at 6:00 p.m. during Council’s Regular Public Meeting.
The hearing was livestreamed and recorded. Click to watch the recording of the FY2024 Proposed Budget Public Hearing
Budget Archive
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2018:
The Department of Budget Management under the direction of the Executive Director, is responsible for the execution of the annual operating and capital budgets as approved by County Council, including regular reports of findings and recommendations aimed at optimum spending levels.
The department evaluates all budget requests from department directors in terms of overall county policy and budget direction as may be set by County Council. Once a proposed budget is prepared, it is presented to the Executive Director who reviews it before submitting it to County Council in November for preliminary acceptance.
Before final passage in December, County Council further reviews the budget and holds public hearings before the document is approved and put into effect.
All personnel actions require certification from the Budget Management Department that funds are available within the budgets of the respective departments.
The Department of Budget Management is located on the 2nd floor of the Government Center Building and may be reached at (610) 891-4449.
Delaware County Budget Management Department
Location:
Government Center
Room 208
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Phone: 610-891-4449
Fax: 610-891-4530