Sussex County adopts 2026 budget and approves multiple bond and capital ordinances

The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt the county's 2026 budget on May 13, approving the appropriation and the amount to be raised by taxation and moving forward with several bond and capital ordinances.

During the meeting's budget presentation and public hearing, the board heard a condensed presentation of the county's 2025 audit from Ray Cerinelli of the county's auditors, who said the fund balance grew and now stands at about 17.7% of the operating budget, inside the county's 15%2% policy range and near the upper target the board uses for fiscal flexibility. Cerinelli noted the county's long-term debt fell by about $8.5 million during 2025 and characterized the county's overall finances as "in good shape," though he flagged a slight reduction in the storm reserve after early-year weather events. "It's like 200 pages, so we'll try and get through it quickly," Cerinelli said while summarizing the key figures.

At the budget hearing Ken Collins of Andover Township urged the board to limit tax increases, saying steady annual percentage increases can compound dramatically for homeowners over decades. "You gotta really be careful with what you're doing," he said. The board offered to follow up with specific budget-detail answers after the meeting.

After the public hearing the board moved to finally adopt the 2026 budget. The adoption resolution cited appropriations and identified the amount to be raised by taxation (transcribed as $108,695,401 for county purposes). On roll call Director Space, Commissioner Carney, Deputy Director DeGroot, Commissioner Henderson, and Commissioner Silverthorn voted in the affirmative; the chair announced that the budget was adopted.

In the same session the board completed public hearings and final adoptions of a series of ordinances authorizing bonds and capital projects, including a bond ordinance for Sussex County Community College, an ordinance funding capital improvements at the Sussex County Career & Technical High School, and appropriations for county road and bridge projects supported by New Jersey Department of Transportation grants. The board also adopted an ordinance approving a use application for the Newton Green and a separate ordinance establishing rules of conduct and decorum for public meetings. Each ordinance was opened for public comment, received no substantive testimony, and was adopted after motions, seconds, and roll-call or voice votes.

The board approved a resolution setting the form and details for a bond offering and authorizing related bond anticipation notes and bonding for vocational-technical and county college projects as required under state law.

The county administrator later reported on American Rescue Plan Act-funded projects and said the Franklin Library roof work has been completed with invoices being scheduled. The administrator also said the county is reviewing a shared-services approach to ensure municipal tax maps are updated, and that county counsel is reviewing options related to a fuel-vendor performance issue.

What happens next: the board authorized clerical publication of adopted ordinances and instructed the clerk to post final resolutions; the adopted budget and bond orders will proceed to whatever state and administrative steps are required for final implementation.