Kent County Commissioners unanimously approved a fiscal 2016 budget during their regularly scheduled meeting last week. The $51 million budget maintains tax rates, but increases water and sewer rates by 4 percent.

As reported by MyEasternShoreMD,

Last-minute adjustments have shaved some $47,000 off the $51 million draft budget submitted last week, Pat Merritt, the county’s chief financial officer, told the commissioners before the vote. Most of the savings came from reduction of the capital budget for schools by $97,000, she said. Offsettng that reduction was a $30,000 increase in the county’s annual contribution to Chesapeake College.

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The county’s cash reserve is 8.6 percent of the total budget, about $500,000 above the target amount, Merritt said. Also, the county is paying off about $1.8 million in debt.

Additional information on the fiscal 2016 budget can be found on the county’s website.