DELAWARE COUNTY, PA (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware County property owners could see a tax increase next year, as officials are proposing a 5% increase as part of next year’s budget.
Delaware County’s proposed 2024 budget is a little more than $353 million, according to Chief Administrative Officer Marc Woolley.
Woolley says it has five main objectives:
- Support Delaware County’s five-year Capital Improvement Program to sustain and improve infrastructure and physical assets.
- Continue to make improvements and document processes for internal support functions
- Increase accuracy and precision and budget forecasting and management
- Support critical core services
- Recruit, retain, and invest in staff
Woolley told council Tuesday this budget is a realization they must reduce their reliance on COVID-19 relief funds.
“These one-time revenue infusions, while critical in years past in shoring up our bottom line and lost revenues, have sunsetted,” Woolley said.
He says that’s why he’s advocating for a property tax increase that would go towards things like deferred building maintenance, which officials say totals about $300 million.
Woolley says some properties have gone decades without proper upgrades.
A budget approval meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 13.