During a meeting June 14, Henlopen Acres commissioners approved an operating budget for the fiscal year beginning Monday, July 1, that has about $1.24 million in expenses compared to about $1.26 million in revenue.

“Overall, town finances are stable,” said Mayor Joni Reich in an email June 23. “While faced with significantly higher costs for employee-related items such as health insurance [which increased 27%], the commissioners have been able to construct a new budget with a relatively small increase in our property taxes and keep the rental tax rates, water rate and marina fees the same for residents.”

Property taxes were increased about 7.7%, from $3.25 to $3.50 per $100 of assessed value, said Reich. This will raise tax revenue by about $35,000 or $165 per property, she said.

There was an increase in kayak fees, Reich said. The yearly storage and access fee went from $125 to $150; the yearly access fee from $50 to $75; the weekly launch fee from $10 to $25; and the daily launch fee from $5 to $10.

Commissioners increased the zoning construction fee – the permit fee for work up to $50,000 in cost went from 2.25% to 2.5%; the permit fee for work of $50,000 or more went from 2.5% to 2.75%.

There are changes to the business license fee too. The license fee for a small business – under 10 employees – remains $50, but the fee for a business with more than 10 employees increased from $100 to $125, and the fee for businesses using trucks over 26,000 pounds went from $150 to $225.

Reich said the town budgeted $225,300 in the capital budget. Major projects include $50,000 toward marina dredging; $40,000 to begin a three-year project to replace the wooden boards on the marina dock; $50,000 for a new security vehicle and lawn mower; and $25,000 to replace the roof on the water plant. The town also received $125,000 in state grants for the water plant, she said.

As for the current budget, through May, construction fees are about $60,000 above the budgeted $135,000 and transfer taxes are double the $100,000 budgeted, said Reich. Sales prices have risen significantly in the last year, so the commissioners have set a transfer tax budget of $125,000 for next year.