NCCo eyes sewer cost increase, police expansion
New Castle County Council on Tuesday will debate and vote on government's $284 million spending plan for the county, which will include proposals to increase residents' sewer bills, expand the county's police force and contribute more to local volunteer fire departments.
County Executive Matt Meyer presented his proposed operating budget in March. The budget funds everything in local government from spending on parks and sewers to police, ambulance and land regulation. Despite dire projections of government costs rising far faster than revenues, no county officials are calling for higher property taxes this year.
"It's a tight budget," said Councilman George Smiley, who co-chairs the council's Finance Committee.
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Residents could see a small increase in the amount paid for sewer service. Sewer service is paid on a fee calculated by individuals' water use and one budget amendment to be debated on Tuesday would see that fee increased by 5.5 percent in the coming year.
Councilman John Cartier, who also co-chairs the Finance Committee, said the increase will see the average residential customer paying "$15 or $16" more each year.
The change would bring in about $3 million more for the county's sewer fund, which is used to conduct maintenance on the county's sewer system as well as plan and administer future upgrades.
In recent years, the county has relied on reserves from the sewer fund to pay for regular expenses, including debt incurred for millions in annual sewer rehabilitation. That reserve pot currently has about $10 million in it, and Cartier said the county shouldn't continue to deplete it.
"(The amendment) is covering the anticipated deficit in the sewer fund for 2018," Cartier said.
Another proposed amendment would add some $5.8 million in new expenses to the county budget by increasing the county's police force of 420 by 40 officers.
The amendment is being pushed by Councilman Jea Street, who argues the county needs more officers to stem violent crime outside Wilmington and keep those officers safe.
"There is no question in my mind that our officers are safer in two-officer vehicles as opposed to one," Street said. "I think that is especially needed in high crime areas."
Street noted Wilmington has 320 officers for its population of 70,000. New Castle County has a population of 550,000 with an authorized force of 400. He added the county won't be able to reach its authorized force until the graduation of the next academy.
"Our numbers are short," Street said.
Street's proposal would pay for the increases through the county's tax stabilization reserves, which currently sit at $35 million. Meyer's preliminary budget also anticipated using about $8 million from one of the county's reserve funds in the coming year.
The county's police force is one of local government's largest expenses, partially fueling the growth of personnel costs that are projected to rise by millions each year.
Debate over increased funding for police have taken place in both Wilmington and New Castle County recently. Last year, County Council approved increasing the police force to 400 partially using federal grant money.
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Some on council were wary about the expansion because the grant will eventually run out, leaving the county covering the full cost for the officers. Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki rejected a similar grant earlier this year over concerns about cost.
"I understand where Councilman Street is coming from," Smiley said. "I'd like to see every department staff with the personnel it needs, but ... you need a continuing source of revenue for a continuing cost."
Another amendment would increase the grant money given each year to the 21 volunteer fire departments operating throughout the county. Those departments make up the fire service for all areas in New Castle County outside of Wilmington, which has a paid fire service.
Meyer's proposed budget kept grant funding for those departments slightly below last year's total of $4.2 million.
Councilman Bill Bell wants to increase the appropriation by $420,000. Leaders of the volunteer fire companies have said their costs are continuing to rise as they struggle with recruitment. He said keeping the county's contribution to the fire departments level is "unacceptable."
"Keeping them at level funding does nothing for them to be able to sustain," Bell said.
Council will also debate amendments to eliminate vacant positions within government, hire more emergency communication employees and other housekeeping matters.
The budget being debated Tuesday does not include any major reductions in funding from state government. The state reimburses the county governments for some services. State lawmakers have discussed potentially reducing those appropriations as they seek to close their own deficit and pass a budget at the end of June.
"We are all holding our breath," Cartier said. "It could change the whole picture for us."
Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@