Acting County Executive John D. Psota is pleased to announce the passage of his Fiscal Year 2023 County budget by the Wicomico County Council at Tuesday’s night regular meeting. The total budget is $173 Million and focuses on the County’s core services; education, public safety, health and infrastructure. The budget projects $63 Million in local income taxes receipts. This amount is an increase of 11.7% over fiscal 2022 and reflects the County’s continued economic vitality. The County’s real property assessable base increased 4.43% year over year and will yield approximately $695,000 in additional real property tax receipts. In accordance with the County revenue cap the property tax mill rate will be $0.9070 versus $0.9195 in fiscal 2022.
The budget increases funding for volunteer fire and EMS companies by $1,300,000 and includes a length of service awards system to assist with recruitment and retention of members.
Funding for the Board of Education Maintenance of Effort will increase by $260,000, and also provides $1 Million in potential funding for enhanced school safety. Funding will also be provided for Mardela Middle/Senior High School as well as roof renovations at Wicomico High School.
The budget includes much needed pay increases for County employees based on a comprehensive market study conducted by a professional consulting firm. The new pay scales will render Wicomico County much more competitive with neighboring jurisdictions and will help ensure recruitment and retention. The budget also funds the next round of pay increases for sheriff’s deputies as negotiated in the most recent three year collective bargaining agreement.
There has been $325,000 appropriated to allow for the continuance of our efforts to provide County sewer service in areas experiencing septic failures. Additionally $70,000 has also been appropriated to assist the health department with septic inspections and permitting.
The County plans to bond $23,378,386 in the fall of this year to fund proposed capital improvement projects including, upgrades to the old courthouse, the Applied Technology Building at Wor-Wic College Mardela Middle/Senior High School, renovation to the Coulbourn Mill pond dam and various airport projects including the extension of runway 14/32.
The Acting County Executive wishes to express his appreciation to county citizens and the County Council for their cooperation and suggestions during the budget process.
