Sussex County budget funds public safety
SUSSEX COUNTY – Recently, Sussex County officials unveiled the proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The $265.5 million budget includes a focus on public safety and emergency services.
“Sussex County Council, County Administration have long supported public safety and I think the fiscal year 25 budget is just another acknowledgment of that support,” said current Sussex County EMS Director Robert Murray.
Councilman Mark Shaeffer said public safety has long been a priority for the county, and emergency response is something they take pride in: “When you when you dial 911 and you have a family member in an emergency situation, you should have a paramedic in your living room in under 8 minutes.”
The proposed budget includes $2.6 million for the construction of new paramedic stations across the county, including in Dewey Beach.
“There was a huge need in Dewey Beach to service the area south of Dewey Beach and north of Dewey Beach, particularly in the summer months when there’s a lot of traffic, to cut the response time down,” said Councilman Schaeffer.
In addition to funding for public safety – Sussex County is reorganizing their operations in an effort to optimize their efficiency. Under the umbrella of a newly minted Department of Public Safety, there’s: 911 Dispatch, EMS, and now a new division of Emergency Management.
Robert Murray–who is the prospective Director of the new Department of Public Safety–said it will help them be better prepared for emergency situations, compared to the previous management structure: “Time was split, resources were split…[Emergency Management’s] sole role is to look out for the safety of Sussex County and making sure that Sussex County is prepared with their emergency operations plan.”
Emergency operations like responding as quickly as possible to a natural disaster: “We’re entering hurricane season to make sure that we are prepared for hurricane season and to be the forward public face that people come to know.”
Councilman Mark Schaeffer added that from the real estate transfer taxes the county collects 91% of that goes toward public safety operations.
Before the budget is adopted at their next meeting, the Sussex County Council will be taking public comment.
