The Delaware Department of Elections, the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System, Delaware’s state treasurer and Delaware’s auditor of accounts are next to present their budget appeals.
These departments and individuals will be putting forward their requests all day Tuesday.
The state Joint Finance Committee wrapped up its first week of hearings last Thursday, with presentations from Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University and the University of Delaware.
This week marks the second week of JFC hearings, with the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of Labor among those scheduled to make their appeals on Wednesday.
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Delaware auditor Lydia York discusses adding new full-time positions
State auditor of accounts Lydia York was the last to present budget appeals to the committee on Tuesday.Among her many responsibilities, York helps contribute to the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, a vetted financial statement of the First State.
York has served in the position since 2023.
Requested items included in former Gov. Carney’s recommended budget include further support for staff technology and travel.
Additional financial support for technology would include adding spending authority to create “a four-year replacement cycle for computers,” according to the budget summary.
State treasurer office aims for further retirement savings program support
The Office of the State Treasurer – led by current state treasurer Colleen Davis – was next to present appeals to committee members.
Davis, who has served in the role since 2018, is responsible for providing services that help the state achieve financial distinction.
The state treasurer’s office currently consists of “31 full-time employees and five casual seasonal employees.”
The “top priority” within the office is further support for the retirement savings program Delaware EARNS, which officially launched in July 2024.
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Davis explained that further investment will help give Delawareans the necessary tools and resources needed “to retire with dignity.”
Additional requests included in the recommended budget from the office include assistance to its Reconciliations and Transaction Management division and the Operations and Fund Management division.
Delaware Criminal Justice Information System advocates funding for door openers, additional position
The state Criminal Justice Information System was the next group to present its budget appeals to the committee.
Led by acting executive director Dominic Carretto, this network is designed to initiate policy that will help support and enhance the First State’s criminal justice system.
Under former Gov. Carney’s recommended budget, the system has requested further funding for three months of annualization for the positions of Strategic Information Systems Project Leader and Legislative and Communications Director among its door openers.
The system also included requests to support a Management Analyst III position and additional Delaware Department of Information and Technology infrastructure updates – requests that were not included in the recommended budget.
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As Carretto explained, the network has received an average of 1,300 support tickets every month over the past three years, equating to roughly 325 tickets per colleague.
Carretto added that having a Management Analyst III on the system’s team would help with the workload.
“The more people we have available for that position, the better,” Carretto said.
Department of Elections pushes for stipend increases
The Delaware Department of Elections was the first state department to present its budget requests to committee members Tuesday morning.
The election department provides several resources and services for elections including, conducting elections, registering residents to vote and counting election results.
In addition to highlighting requests in former Delaware Gov. John Carney’s recommended budget, including the expansion of the New Castle County Warehouse to store voting equipment “in a single location,” the department requested more money to “provide increased stipends” for Board of Elections members. The payment has not grown in several years.
The increase would help “recognize [the] additional service” many members have dedicated to election preparation and on Election Days, Commissioner Anthony Albence said.
The Elections department also currently has one vacant full-time position, which they plan to fill before June 30.
This is a developing story. Updates will be made throughout the day.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact. You can reach her at [email protected].
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