Delaware County Council is considering a proposed $321 million budget that would raise property taxes by 23%. For a home assessed at the county average of $255,108, the tax bill would increase about $185 from $803 to $988. At a Dec. 3 council budget workshop, county executive director Barbara O’Malley explained that costs have increased. Chris Franklin, CEO of Essential Utilities, the parent company of Aqua, proposed a way for the county to improve its finances — allow his company to buy the DELCORA sewer system, which would put $125 million into the county coffers. DELCORA — the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority — serves nearly 500,000 county residents, collecting and conveying an average daily wastewater flow of approximately 60 million gallons per day. County council members noted that many of the factors in the proposal did not provide a long-term solution for the county’s financial position. Councilman Richard Womack said a commission needs to be set up to look at county finances long-term. “We are facing a systemic financial crisis right now,” Womack said. “It’s going to require a bold, collaborative, strategic action to ensure a long, financial stability with a positive cash flow for the next decade.”
Source: Daily Times; 12/4/2024