2027 Budget Hearing Afternoon Session - September 9th, 2026

The Delaware County Government held a 2027 Budget Hearing on September 9, 2026, focusing extensively on departmental budget requests, adjustments, and reconciliations. Key procurement-related discussions included budget allocations for the Sheriff's Department, jail operations, public defender office, courts, and IT infrastructure. The council reviewed pension funding options, overtime controls, and salary increases, with particular attention to the sheriff's pension and jail medical contracts. The meeting also addressed capital improvement projects, notably a $4 million proposal for urgent repairs and ADA compliance upgrades to the county building, with suggestions to reduce the initial funding to $750,000 to start the work. IT expenditures were discussed, including software licensing, cloud migration plans, and the need for a disaster recovery site. The public defender's office highlighted the need for salary adjustments to comply with state guidelines and reduce reliance on costly outside counsel. Courts requested increased funding for psychological evaluations, jury costs, and travel for mandatory conferences. The CASA program requested funding for additional part-time staff due to increased caseloads. Several departments noted health insurance cost adjustments and grant funding changes. The meeting concluded with discussions on contractual services, software maintenance costs, and the need for a comprehensive IT modernization plan. Motions included a recess to continue budget deliberations.