Delaware

Bill Bans School Property Tax Increases From Reassessments

Published

3 years ago

May 18, 2022

Bill Bans School Property Tax Increases From Reassessments

By RANDALL CHASE, Related Press

DOVER, Del. (AP) — State lawmakers are contemplating laws to ban native faculty boards from making the most of court-ordered property reassessments in Delaware’s three counties to extend faculty district taxes.

Beneath present legislation, if a county conducts a basic reassessment of actual property values, every faculty board should calculate a brand new tax fee that might enable not more than a ten% enhance at school property tax income in comparison with income within the fiscal yr instantly previous the reassessment.

A invoice mentioned Wednesday by the Home Schooling Committee would strike that language, prohibiting faculty districts from realizing any enhance at school property taxes as the results of a reassessment.

“We’re mainly eliminating that chance,” mentioned chief invoice sponsor Michael Smith, a Newark Republican.

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Whereas Democratic lawmakers expressed issues in regards to the affect of the laws, they mentioned the subject was worthy of extra dialogue and agreed to launch the invoice from committee for potential consideration by the complete Home.

Funding of public colleges in Delaware comes from a mixture of state, native and federal tax cash. The state offers about 60% of the funding, whereas native faculty property taxes generate about 31%, with voters approving the native property tax fee by means of referenda. The counties, nonetheless, set up the assessed values of the properties which might be taxed.

Whereas property taxes are a key funding part for college districts, state legislation doesn’t require reassessments on any explicit schedule. Kent County in central Delaware final reassessed property values in 1987, whereas northern New Citadel County’s present evaluation dates to 1983. Sussex County, dwelling to million-dollar seaside houses, final reassessed properties in 1974.

Final yr, officers in all three counties agreed to reassess property values to settle a lawsuit over faculty funding and woefully outdated property assessments. These agreements got here after a Delaware Chancery Courtroom decide dominated that the outdated county evaluation schemes violated each a constitutional requirement that properties be taxed uniformly, and a state legislation requiring that property be assessed at “its true worth in cash.” The Delaware Supreme Courtroom has interpreted that to imply current truthful market worth.

Following that ruling, Democrat Gov. John Carney pledged to hunt extra money from the legislature for deprived college students, and the counties agreed to conduct reassessments.

State lawmakers subsequently authorized a invoice mandating that weighted funding for deprived faculty college students turn out to be a everlasting fixture within the state price range, which was one of many necessities within the state’s settlement of the lawsuit introduced by the ACLU and Neighborhood Authorized Help Society.

The invoice codified the so-called “Alternative Funding” that Carney’s administration first proposed after the lawsuit was filed in 2018. The settlement settlement required Carney to hunt appropriations for drawback college students of no less than $50 million for the 2023-24 faculty yr and no less than $60 million for the 2024-25 faculty yr.

In the meantime, the reassessment course of is underway in every county, however reassessments should not prone to be accomplished earlier than fiscal yr 2024.

State legislation requires reassessments to be revenue-neutral, with tax charges rolled again in order to offer the identical tax income as was levied in the course of the prior fiscal yr. Nevertheless, the legislation does enable a county to set the property tax fee for the fiscal yr instantly following a reassessment at a degree permitting a income enhance of as much as 15% for that yr in comparison with the instantly previous fiscal yr. That provision is presumably meant to cowl the multimillion-dollar value of a reassessment.

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Delaware

Autumn’s newest tradition: The Delaware Fall Festival at Battery Park

Published

8 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Autumn’s newest tradition: The Delaware Fall Festival at Battery Park

Sunday’s autumn weather was perfect for the inaugural Delaware Fall Festival.

The event took place at Battery Park in the historic Old New Castle area of New Castle, providing the ideal setting for a community gathering and a worthy cause.

The free event was organized to raise funds and awareness for the New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition’s planned expansion of the park’s playground. Phase 2 of the Battery Park Playground Project will feature a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel, the Swedish flagship that brought settlers who established the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley in 1638.

The festival featured live entertainment, children’s activities, and various food vendors.

Renee Duval, a three-year resident of New Castle, attended the festival with her husband and two children. As regular visitors to Battery Park who often stroll the path near Deemers Beach, they were excited to explore the event after hearing about the food trucks, music, and vendors.

Among the vendors was Theresa Batts, owner of Batts Concessions from Hartford County, Maryland, who learned about the festival through social media. She said the timing was perfect. She and her husband prefer to sell on weekends, but it is very hard to find events on a Sunday. And this weekend, they were celebrating their business’s first anniversary. Batts Concessions offered an array of treats, including kettle corn, homemade peanut brittle, various nuts, and cotton candy. When asked how sales were going, Batts replied, “Fantastic. No complaints. We would definitely do it again next year.”

Delaware Fall Festival organizers hope to make this an annual tradition for the historic waterfront community.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

AAA predicts heavy travel over Thanksgiving holiday

Published

16 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

AAA predicts heavy travel over Thanksgiving holiday

For many people, Thanksgiving means full stomachs, full hearts … and full roads.

According to AAA, travel over the Thanksgiving holiday is expected to set records. Jana Tidwell is with AAA.

“Nearly 217,000 Delawareans will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday,” she said. “That’s more than 20% of the population. Of those traveling in Delaware, more than 91% will travel by car.”

Tuesday and Wednesday are likely to be the worst travel days on the roads.

“The challenge with Tuesday and Wednesday is that holiday travelers will be mixing with commuters, especially in the late afternoon time,” Tidwell said.

Tidwell suggests traveling during off-peak times, like early in the mornings or after the evening rush hour. Whenever you travel, Tidwell says to be patient, follow the rules of the road, and avoid distractions like cell phones and eating behind the wheel.

AAA notes the window for holiday travel is longer this year, adding Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the Monday after to their definition of the holiday weekend. Tidwell says that’s because the advent of remote work and changes in school schedules have allowed for more flexibility in travel.

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Delaware

Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for Nov. 23, 2024

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2024

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Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for Nov. 23, 2024

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

12-13-34-44-67, Powerball: 08, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 3 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Day: 7-9-1

Night: 8-5-1

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Day: 8-4-2-0

Night: 3-6-9-6

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

02-05-09-20-27-31

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

11-20-21-26-31, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

02-08-10-14-49, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Day: 9-3-5-9-8

Night: 9-9-6-1-6

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.

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