Delco Getting 2.3% Tax Hike

MEDIA–The Delaware County Council adopted the 2012 operating budget of $324,021,000 with a 2.3 percent tax increase at a county council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

An average home assessed in the county is $135,000, in which the average homeowner will look to pay $16 more in real estate taxes to the county for 2012.

The 2.3 percent increase reflects a total millage tax rate increase of 5.304–of which 4.393 mills on each dollar of assessed value for general county purposes and 0.911 mills on each dollar of assessed value for debt service.

Some of the major areas reflecting the revenue and fund balance in the 2012 budget include real estate taxes, which makes up about 48 percent, or about $156 million, of the total revenues while about 28 percent, or about $89 million, of the total revenues represent grants.

Some of the major areas reflecting the expenditures in the 2012 budget include the administration of justice, which makes up about 41 percent, or about $131 million, of the total expenditures while about 28 percent, or about $90 million, of the total expenditures represent social welfare.

In addition to the 2012 operating budget, council members also adopted the capital spending budget of $49,675,000 for years 2012-2016.

For 2012, some of the major capital improvement projects include $7.5 million of building improvements, $2.6 million toward equipment and $1.5 million of updates and renovations to the county prison.

The three-year contract between Delaware County Park Police and the county, which includes retroactive pay from Dec. 31, 2009, to Dec. 31, 2012, was also approved at Tuesday's meeting.

According to the County Executive Director Marianne Grace, in 2010 the police agreed to a 0 percent increase; in 2011 a 2 percent increase; and in 2012 a 2 percent increase.

The adopted 2012 budget will be made available in the future on the county's budget management webpage here.