Delaware

Delaware

Budget Links

FY2025 (proposed)
FY2024 (enacted)
FY2023 (enacted)
FY2022 (enacted)
FY2021 (enacted)
FY2020 (enacted)

Proposed Budget - Fiscal Year 2025

On January 25, Delaware Governor John Carney presented his fiscal 2025 budget recommendation. Total recommended general fund appropriations are $6.49 billion, a 2.1 percent decrease compared to fiscal 2024 estimates. This includes the general fund operating budget of $6.07 billion (an 8.4 percent increase over fiscal 2024), in addition to $91.8 million for one-time items in a separate supplemental appropriation bill, $66.5 million for grants-in-aid, and $275.5 million in dedicated cash to support the governor’s $944 million separate fiscal 2025 capital budget. The budget is based on a general fund revenue forecast of $6.29 billion for fiscal 2025, which reflects 1.9 percent annual growth over fiscal 2024 estimates. Total general fund appropriations represent 98.0 percent of projected fiscal 2025 revenue plus the unencumbered prior-year cash balance of $331 million, meeting the two percent set-aside requirement. Additionally, the governor’s budget maintains a newer reserve, known as the Budget Stabilization Fund, at $410.1 million. The state’s traditional rainy day fund, the Budget Reserve Account, has a projected balance of $341 million. The state’s cumulative cash balance, including these reserves, encumbered balances of $1.22 billion, and an unencumbered cash balance of $155 million, is estimated at $2.12 billion for fiscal 2025.

Proposed Budget Highlights 

The governor’s budget proposes investments in public education and childcare; economic development and infrastructure; climate change prevention, clean water, and environmental initiatives; safer communities; and the state workforce. Key spending initiatives in these priority areas include:

Education & Childcare

• $188 million for public education capital projects.
• $45.2 million for increasing public education salaries, moving toward a goal of $60,000 starting salary for new teachers over the next four years. 
• $39.2 million to fund Public Education unit growth.
• $10 million increase in Opportunity Funding investments for low-income students and English language learners, bringing total funding for the program to $63 million.
• $10.1 million for school safety.
• $17.3 million for K-12 mental health services.
• $6.1 million to expand family eligibility to 200 percent of Federal Poverty Level for Purchase of Care early childhood education program, bringing total funding to $83 million.
• $3.5 million increase for Early Childhood Assistance Program (total program funding of $16million).

Clean Water & Environment

• $77.4 million in state and federal Clean Water initiatives, including funding for low-income and underserved communities ($32.8 million state; $44.6 million federal).
• $24.7 million for shoreline and waterway resiliency (includes $18 million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $1.7 million federal grant funding).
• $20 million in Farmland preservation and Open Space programs.
• $7.5 million for electric vehicle infrastructure and clean energy (includes federal funds).

Economic Development & Infrastructure

• $34.5 million to support economic growth and revitalization initiatives in the City of Wilmington, City of Dover, and Georgetown.
• $32.5 million to modernize infrastructure, support small businesses, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship, with investments in the Strategic Fund ($12.5 million), Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund ($5 million), Graduation Lab Space ($5 million), and the Site Readiness Fund ($10 million).
• $30 million for capital projects at Delaware State University, Delaware Technical Community College, and the University of Delaware.
• $15 million for the second year to support the Securing American Biomanufacturing Research and Education (SABRE) Project.
• $5 million for second year of a five-year commitment to support the transformation of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Safer Communities

• $18 million for infrastructure improvements at Correction facilities.
• $6 million for affordable housing.
• $5.5 million for the statewide Urban Redevelopment initiative.
• $4 million for the Strong Neighborhoods Housing Fund
• $10 million for Subdivision Street Pavement Management Fund.

State Workforce 

• $122.2 million for compensation increases and efforts to improve pay equity for state employees, including a 2 percent minimum increase across the board for state employees.
• $150 million in state employee health care ($93.9 million) and other post-retirement employee benefits ($56.1 million).
• $105 million to maintain and upgrade state facilities.

Proposed Budget Information
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal 

Governor's Financial Overview 

Governor's Budget Overview 

Governor’s Press Release