Civics 101: How Delaware’s budget is decided — and how you can participate

Part 4 of the Delaware Civics 101 Series:
Understanding How Delaware Organizes, Spends, and Balances Its Money

Every June, while most Delawareans are dreaming of long summer days and trips to the beach, weary state officials are stuck indoors, trying to finish a document that will shape nearly every aspect of our lives — the Delaware State Budget.

It has taken nearly 12 months for this multi-billion-dollar spending plan to take shape. For a year, it has been reviewed, tweaked and reconfigured – line by line, department by department, program by program. 

Then, almost as soon as it has been signed into law, it’s time to start the whole process over again.

To truly understand Delaware’s budget — and to know the best moments for making your voice heard — you also need to understand the whole story of how it’s created.

The process runs on a strict yearly cycle that balances planning, legislative oversight, and public accountability. It begins with agency requests in summer, and ends only when the Governor signs — by law, no later than June 30 every year.

Step 1: Agencies Make Requests (July–Nov.)

Each state department — Education, Health and Social Services, Transportation, and eight

more – drafts budget requests for the next fiscal year. They list how much is needed to maintain existing services, along with any additional “enhancements” for new programs or staff.

Those requests are formally presented by agency heads to lawmakers in budget hearings that take place in November. Frequently, those agencies seek more money, and just as frequently, they face polite but firm pushback from skeptical lawmakers. This can become a make-or-break moment for each agency’s aspirations.

Step 2: The Governor’s Office Reviews (Oct.–Dec.)

The OMB reviews requests against projected revenues from the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC), whose sole mission is to make a clear-eyed and realistic assessment of how much money will be in hand over the next 12 months. Appointed by the governor, its members “broadly represent both the public and private sectors of the State’s economy,” and have included finance professionals, attorneys, and business leaders. Members of the General Assembly also serve on the council.

With DEFAC’s revenue forecast in hand, the Governor and cabinet secretaries work to align their policy goals with the funds they expect to see. Under Delaware’s Constitution, they are obligated to keep spending in line with revenue, ensuring a  “balanced budget.”

Citizen Involvement:

• Contact the Governor’s Office and/or your local legislators before January to share your priorities.
• Letters, emails, and organized advocacy have been known to influence which programs are elevated in the Governor’s proposal.
• Attend the OMB public hearings in November and ask officials your questions. Here’s how to see the action:
  • Visit the state’s Public Meeting Calendar at publicmeetings.delaware.gov.
  • In the “Agency” dropdown menu, select “Budget Development,” and a schedule of upcoming hearings will appear.
  • Note: Pre-registration is required for members of the public to present comments. Register by emailing omb.budgethearing@delaware.gov.

Step 3: The Governor Presents the Budget (Jan.)

In late January, the Governor delivers the annual Budget Address and releases the official Recommended Budget. It includes three main bills: the Operating Budget Bill, the Bond Bill, and the Grant-in-Aid Bill.

Citizen Involvement:

• Read the Governor’s proposal at budget.delaware.gov. (Gov. Matt Meyer’s FY27 proposal is now live.)
• Follow Delaware LIVE and Spotlight Delaware’s coverage to learn what’s funded or cut before legislative debate.

Step 4: Legislative Review and Public Hearings (Feb.–May)

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) of the legislature holds hearings where agencies defend their requests. Advocates, nonprofits, and residents can testify about funding needs or proposed reductions. Members of the JFC then make their final votes on how much funding each “line item” on the budget will get (or not get), usually in May.

It’s important to make your voice heard before that “mark-up” vote occurs – once votes are cast, these decisions are very difficult to change. The mark-up is also when JFC members must go “on the record,” so it is a good time for citizens to see how lawmakers are voting on specific issues.

Live streams of the budget hearings, which typically run from February through June, can be accessed on the Delaware General Assembly website, legis.delaware.gov. The “What’s Happening” box on the homepage lists upcoming hearings – you can register to attend, or click through to the livestream, on each event page. You can also go to legis.delaware.gov/WatchAndListen to see a live hearing (if one is occurring). JFC hearings are also detailed at legis.delaware.gov/Committee/JointFinance.

The hearings also feature “virtual public comment,” where you can join the Zoom webinar and make your voice heard. Public comment typically occurs following each state agency’s budget presentation, and all public comments are limited to two minutes per speaker. To sign up to make a comment, find the hearing through the “What’s Happening” calendar at legis.delaware.gov. Click on the meeting you want, then click the “register” link. Once registration is complete, you’ll get an email that includes the joining link, meeting ID, and password.

Another panel of lawmakers – the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement (Bond Bill Committee) – holds its own hearings on whether to authorize state borrowing to fund construction and long-term investments.

Citizen Involvement:

• Testify in person or virtually at JFC or Bond Bill hearings at Legislative Hall in Dover.
• Work with advocacy groups to present stories or data.
• Submit written testimony to JFC_Public_Comment@delaware.gov or contact legislators directly.
• For Bond Bill issues, email testimony to Bond_Public_Comment@delaware.gov.

Step 5: Revenue Forecasts Finalized (March–June)

DEFAC meets several times a year to project Delaware’s revenue outlook. The committee’s June forecast determines the spending limit. Delaware law allows spending of no more than 98% of projected revenues.

Citizen Involvement:

• Writeups of DEFAC’s forecasts are available at finance.delaware.gov/financial-reports/defac-revenue-forecast. Understanding these forecasts helps citizens evaluate how wisely leaders spend or save.
• DEFAC meetings are open to the public and webcast online – meeting dates and times are available online at the link above. Each meeting page has links for attending virtually, and public comment is welcome: Just email comments to defac@delaware.gov, or sign up ahead of time to give verbal comment during the meeting. (In-person participants may sign up at the meeting site. If the meeting has a remote option, participants must register 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time at defac@delaware.gov – be sure to give your name and the email address or phone number you will be using to remotely access the meeting.)

Step 6: Final Negotiations, Markup, and Passage (May-June)

The “Final Negotiations” of Delaware’s budget often happen behind closed doors, between the “Big Six” (leadership from both parties in the House and Senate) and the Governor. It’s often a high-pressure, rapid-fire process — lawmakers must pass the budget bills by June 30 so the fiscal year can begin July 1. (Note: Each fiscal year actually includes parts of two years — Fiscal Year 2026, for example, runs from July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.)

There is no official mechanism for hearing from the public at this stage, so it’s important to step up and speak out early.

Citizen Involvement:

• Follow late-session updates via Delaware LIVE and Spotlight Delaware.
• Contact your senator or representative early to share your views.
• Even late calls and emails can shape amendments.

Step 7: Implementation and Oversight (July–June)

After the Governor signs the budget, agencies begin implementation. Spending is tracked by the OMB and visible through the Delaware Open Checkbook at checkbook.delaware.gov.

Citizen Involvement:

• Use the Delaware Open Checkbook to track how funds are spent in your community.
• Attend oversight hearings or public comment sessions.
• Monitor whether programs deliver the promised results.

Common Concerns About the Process

While Delaware’s process is efficient and balanced, critics often point to recurring issues:

• Limited transparency during final negotiations.
• Tight deadlines with little time for review.
• Concentration of power among top leaders.
• Short-term focus with limited long-range planning.

Despite these challenges, Delaware consistently passes its budget on time and maintains a AAA bond rating, which helps the state save money by keeping borrowing costs down.

How Delaware Compares to Pa. and Md.

Delaware’s smaller size allows for efficiency and consistency, but citizens must act early to influence outcomes. Larger states like Pennsylvania and Maryland often face political gridlock or delays.

• Fiscal Year: July 1 – June 30 in all three states
• Budget Type: Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania require balanced budgets, but Pennsylvania often struggles with impasses.
• Public Transparency: Delaware good early, limited late; Pennsylvania poor during impasses; Maryland moderate, improving.
• Revenue Mix: Delaware relies on income and corporate taxes, along with abandoned property (“escheat”) revenue; Pennsylvania and Maryland depend more on sales taxes and property taxes.

4. Practical Ways to Engage Year-Round

1. Follow the Budget Calendar to time your advocacy.
2. Speak at OMB or JFC Hearings to directly shape debate.
3. Build coalitions with organizations that share your goals.
4. Contact legislators respectfully and early.
5. Use state transparency tools like the Delaware Open Checkbook.
6. Stay engaged beyond June 30 by tracking outcomes and accountability.

5. Why It Matters

Delaware’s budget is more than a financial document — it’s a statement of priorities. Knowing when decisions are made, who makes them, and how to participate gives every citizen a stronger voice in shaping their community’s future.

A transparent process works best when the people it serves are paying attention.

About the Civics 101 Series: Civics 101 is a continuing explanatory series by Delaware LIVE and the Spotlight Delaware content marketing team designed to help readers understand how state government works and how budget decisions affect everyday life in Delaware. To read other stories in the series, visit the Civics 101 home page.