Plan focuses on strengthening economy, investing in public schools, supporting families and workforce, and protecting the environment

DOVER, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday presented his Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget sending the General Assembly a plan that will strengthen Delaware’s economy, invest in public schools, support Delaware’s families and workforce, and protect our environment.

“Our recommended budget continues to responsibly invest in areas I’ve prioritized during my time as Governor—in public schools, our economy, our workforce, and protecting our environment—while making sure these investments are sustainable in the long run,” said Governor Carney. “Our plan makes significant investments in early childhood education to create more seats for the children and families who need them the most. Our budget fully funds the first year of the Public Education Compensation Committee recommendations for educators – building on the raise I signed into law last year. To continue investing in these priorities, we need to address health care cost inflation, which is adding $200 million dollars to our budget next year. Delawareans understand the need for a balanced, long-term budget plan for our state so we can compete in the future. I look forward to discussing this plan for long-term budget sustainability with members of the General Assembly, and I’d like to thank them for their consideration of this budget.”

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Highlights

• General Fund Operating budget totals $6.07 billion
• Maintains $410.1 million in the Budget Stabilization Fund to manage through forecasted flat revenues in the out years
• Appropriates $91.8 million toward one-time items in a separate supplemental appropriation bill
• Takes continued steps towards providing competitive compensation for state employees
• Moves toward a goal of $60,000 starting salary for new teachers over next four years (Year 1 of the Public Education Compensation Committee recommendations)
• Promotes early childhood education and child care investments
• Increases Opportunity Funding investments for low-income students and English language learners in our schools
• Supports economic development, infrastructure, and safe communities throughout the State
• Continues investments in climate change prevention, clean water, and environmental initiatives
• Adds nearly $200 million for health care cost inflation

Investing in Delaware’s Children

• Invests more than $135 million for early childhood education including $83 million for Purchase of Care and $16 million for the Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP)
• Increases Opportunity Funding Investments by $10 million for a total of $63 million
• $45.2 million for increasing public education salaries
• Adds $56.5 million for Student Unit Growth

Protecting Delaware’s Environment for Future Generations

• $7.5 million for electric vehicle infrastructure and clean energy (includes federal funds)
• $24.7 million for shoreline and waterway resiliency (Includes $18 million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; $1.7 million federal grant funding)
• $20 million in Aglands preservation and Open Space
• $32.8 million for clean water initiatives (Total Clean Water $77.4 million with $44.6 in federal funding; restores $13 million for Drinking Water)

Preparing for the Economy of the Future

• $52.5 million for economic development
• $32.5 million for the Strategic Fund, Graduation Lab Space, Site Readiness, and Transportation Infrastructure Fund
• $20 million for the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and SABRE
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Supporting Delaware’s Workforce

• A 2% minimum increase across the board for state employees
• Continued funding for historic wage increase for teachers, reaching the goal of a $60,000 starting salary in four years
• Invests $150 million in state employee health care and other post-retirement employee benefits

Download Governor Carney’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget presentation.

Watch the budget presentation on Governor Carney’s YouTube page.

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday issued the following statement on the Senate’s vote to confirm his nomination of Terra Taylor to serve as Commissioner of the Delaware Department of Correction (DOC). 

“Thank you to the members of the Delaware Senate for confirming Terra Taylor as Commissioner of the Department of Correction,” said Governor Carney. “Terra has a background in Probation, and has prioritized making sure offenders can reenter society successfully. I’d like to thank Terra for stepping into this role, and I’m confident she will continue the important work underway at the Department of Correction.”

Severe Weather Conditions & Emergencies Alert

State of Delaware offices in Kent and New Castle Counties are closed on Friday, January 19, 2024, during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Non-essential employees who live or work in Kent and New Castle Counties are not to report to work for this period. Essential employees designated for severe weather are to report as scheduled.

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney has postponed the State of the State Address due to illness. The Governor has a fever and mild symptoms, but is in good spirits.

The Governor’s State of the State Address will be rescheduled and announced at a later date.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday announced he intends to nominate Terra Taylor to serve as Commissioner of the Delaware Department of Correction (DOC).

Taylor’s nomination must be approved by the Delaware State Senate.

“Terra’s years of experience within the Department of Correction— starting from her time as a Probation Officer to Chief of Community Corrections to Deputy Commissioner to Acting Commissioner—make her a strong leader for DOC,” said Governor Carney. “I’d like to thank Terra for stepping into this role, and I’m confident she will continue the important work underway at DOC. I look forward to the Delaware Senate considering her nomination.”

Taylor has served as Acting Commissioner since July 2023 and was previously the Deputy Commissioner of DOC. As Deputy Commissioner, Taylor held the Department’s second-highest position with responsibilities for supervising the Department’s four Bureaus and setting direction through policy development, strategic planning, and decision making.

Taylor, who initially joined DOC in 1997, previously served as Chief of Community Corrections and led the bureau that oversees Probation and Parole, pretrial services, the community work release program, electronic monitoring and other supervision programs for more than 10,000 individuals statewide who are housed in Work Release and Violation of Probation facilities or are serving probationary sentences or court-ordered pretrial supervision in the community. The Bureau of Community Corrections has also played an active role in implementing innovative crime reduction initiatives, including the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Projects in the City of Wilmington and Kent County.