Georgetown, Del., June 21, 2011: Sussex County property owners will find some extra change jingling in their pockets in the year ahead thanks to a one-time County tax credit.

County Council, at its Tuesday, June 21, 2011, meeting, approved a measure that will return to taxpayers potentially $1 million or more in surplus funds expected this budget year, which ends June 30. The one-time credit would occur next summer, on the County’s 2012 tax bills, after final numbers for Fiscal 2011 are determined in the annual audit to be performed this fall.

“This comes down to a very fundamental question. Who can best spend the taxpayers’ money – the government or the taxpayers?” said County Councilman Vance Phillips, who proposed the credit. “The answer always comes down to the taxpayers.”

County officials project the surplus could reach $1.3 million for FY11, and proposed allocating $136,000 of that expected revenue to a variety of programs. Those include $52,500 for local law enforcement grants, $35,000 for the Nanticoke Senior Center capital campaign, $21,000 for senior citizen programs, $10,000 for lifeguards in the Fenwick Island area, $10,000 for housing assistance, and $7,500 for streetlights and community cleanup in West Rehoboth.

Once final figures are available and the FY11 surplus is determined, whatever remains after the $136,000 in designated expenses – as well as 10 percent of the surplus, which, by ordinance, must be allocated for land preservation – will be given back to taxpayers as a credit. Leaders are hopeful the move will help families and businesses weather the economy.

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