Henlopen Acres budget rises 3 percent

Henlopen Acres passed its budget for fiscal year 2019/2020, and while capital improvement costs have dropped, operating costs continue to rise.

The town’s budget runs July 1 through June 30, and the commissioners unanimously approved the $866,000 operating budget June 7, a 3 percent increase over last year’s budget at roughly $840,000. The operating budget was approximately $800,000 the year before that.

Town Manager Tom Roth said the increase in expenses this year are related to wage increases, technology upgrades and an increase in tree care and planting. Roth said the budget also includes a 10 percent increase in the water rate, from $400 to $440.

The capital budget is $135,000, a little more than half of last year’s $262,000. Roth said this year’s capital improvement budget includes $55,000 in water system upgrades, $50,000 for future marina dredging and $30,000 for new street department equipment.

Looking out to future years, Roth said he expects to see a continued increase in operating costs. The town will be 50 years old next year, and there are costs in maintaining the town’s infrastructure, he said.