Consolidate contracts. Reform benefits for county employees. Decommission unused phone and fax lines and phase out old technology.
Those are some of the ways Delaware County can reduce spending next year, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.
A Cost Containment Subcommittee of the Delaware County Budget Task Force, which included 60 members of the public, has been meeting for months to identify ways to save money.
“I think it changed people’s views of government and government service,” said Deputy Executive Director Marc Wooley. “This was probably the most impactful project that I’ve been involved in since I’ve been here.”
A final presentation and roadmap report will be presented in December.
The subcommittee’s work comes as the council faces another possible tax increase in 2026, following a 23 percent tax hike in 2025.
Some committee findings:
- Cutting unused fax and phone lines will save up to $70,000 per month.
- Reduce by 20 percent the $1 million spent annually on copiers and $100,000 on paper.
- Reimagine how the county funds and sustains a fleet of 400 mileage-burdened vehicles..
Other cost-saving measures still under review include limiting the use of outside legal counsel and changes at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
Read about other recommendations to increase revenue at WHYY.
