Gov. Meyer signs nearly $7 billion operating budget

Dover, Del. – On Tuesday, Governor Matt Meyer signed Delaware’s Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget, approving a plan that invests in public education, affordable housing, healthcare and child care.

“A budget is more than dollars and cents. It’s a statement of our values,” Meyer said. “And today, we’re signing a budget that invests in people, that tackles affordability and expands opportunity for every Delawarean.”

Meyer was joined by several members of the General Assembly and the Cabinet for the bill signing ceremony. One of whom was Sen. Trey Paradee. (D – District 17), the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, who said this year’s budget was one of the hardest to get through but is excited about the final result.

“We’re trying to put together not just a good budget for this year,” he said. “We’re looking for next year and the year after year after year,” he said, adding that the budget did not increase taxes and added $280 million to the rainy day fund.

“So, the state is in a really solid financial position, and I feel for the first time we’re able to get the various Medicaid reimbursement groups into a good place,” Paradee said. “These are the folks who take care of our elderly in the nursing homes and at home, and provide daycare services for our young children.”

However, Senate Minority Whip Sen. Brian Pettyjohn said he wasn’t too excited about the increased spending.

“I’m not so happy about the growth that happened to the budget,” he said. “It was a little bit above what we had hoped for. It was in the 6%. We wanted to keep it below five.”

Senator Pettyjohn says some of the drivers were health care inflation and increases in retiree and law enforcement pay, though he said he thought some were necessary, especially in ensuring law enforcement recruitment. Paradee also said health care inflation has outpaced regular inflation, though he thought the budget growth was in line with historical growth.

“I think anyone who’s watching this understands that health care and education costs have far outpaced regular inflation,” Paradee said. “So, you know, we as a state, we’re dealing with a lot of those types of pressures. And I think to come in at 6.3% is not terrible.”

The budget also includes a historic $200 million investment in education and more than $150 million in Delaware’s workforce, “including a 3% pay increase for state employees and public education employees,” according to state officials.

However, Paradee said he believes the increased spending was in line with keeping up with regular inflation, which they both agreed is outpaced by health care inflation.

Legislators are expected to work on legislation right up to the 12 a.m. deadline on Wednesday.