Delaware state budget (2012-2013)

Note: This article was last updated in 2013. Click here for more recent information on state budgets and finances.

Jack Markell signed the FY2013 state operating and capital budgets as approved by the Delaware General Assembly into law on July 1, 2012, the first day of FY2013.

Operating budget

The Senate approved with a vote of 17-4 the state’s $3.58 billion FY2013 state budget, Senate Bill 260, on June 27, 2012. The House passed the bill one day later, on June 28, 2012, with a vote of 36-5.

The legislature's budget spent $20.7 million more than originally proposed by the governor. The budget as passed increased spending by 2.2 percent over FY2012, approximately $78 million.

Highlights of the budget include:

• $1.2 billion for public schools;
• More than $1 billion for health and social services;
• An additional $21.7 million to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services for higher Mediciad costs;
• $8.7 million to fund 111 new teaching positions;
• $10 million more than originally proposed by the governor for retiree health care benefits;
• A 1 percent salary increase for state workers costing $21 million.

Gov. Jack Markell released his recommended $3.58 billion operating budget on Jan. 26, 2012 and the proposal can be found here. The budget increased spending over FY2012 by 1.025 percent. It did not include any tax increases.

Additions to the budget included:

• $50 million in additional funding for state employee pay and pension increases,
• $27 million in funding for school staffing, which was previously funded with federal stimulus money,
• $22 million in additional spending for Medicaid to meet enrollment growth,
• $9 million in new funding to hire teachers and other school staff to meet growth in school enrollment, and
• 5 percent funding boosts for fire companies.

Capital budget

Lawmakers also approved a $429 million capital budget, which included:

• $173 million for roads and other transportation projects;
• $256 million for non-transportation projects, including $120 million for public schools;
• $36 million for economic development, including $30 million for the state's strategic fund;
• $10 million each to farmland preservation and open-space preservation.

Governor's proposed budget

The governor initially introduced a $448 million capital budget, with $213 million targeted for transportation improvements and $235 million for schools and other construction projects. Officials proposed to use about $38 million in general fund cash for the capital budget, down from $115 million.