Worcester County Commissioners approved a fiscal 2016 budget this week, increasing property and income tax rates to make ends meet. The $182 million operating budget funds education at the statutorily mandated level; and does not provide funding for county or school employee raises in the upcoming year.

As reported by The Salisbury Daily Times,

The commissioners entered budget season trying to resolve a $22.3 million deficit. By law, a balanced budget must be approved on or before the first Tuesday in June. The fiscal year starts July 1.

The tax increases include a 6.5 percent property tax increase to 83.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, effective July 1, along with a 0.5 percent increase in the county’s piggyback tax to 1.75 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2016.

The $1,486,583 surplus will be transferred to the county’s budget stabilization fund.

The budget was approved in a 5-2 vote, with commissioners Bud Church and Joseph Mitrecic opposing.

A budget message detailing the approved fiscal 2016 budget and items funded can be found on the county website.