Delaware
Current employees and retirees could see less generous state benefits
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This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Delaware is considering sweeping changes to the health benefits for current and retired state employees to counter significant unfunded liabilities.
The Retiree Healthcare Benefits Advisory subcommittee, chaired by Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, presented final recommendations for future hires and including current retirees to the Legislative Joint Health Committee earlier this week. The State Employee Benefits Committee also met to consider options to soften the blow of a 27% premium rate hike for current state employees.
The liability for Other Post-Employment Benefits, which are largely health benefits other than pensions, is $8.9 billion — of which $8.4 billion is unfunded. Officials said the net unfunded liability could grow to as much as $20.7 billion by 2042 if it’s not addressed.
The RHAS subcommittee was created in 2023 after an attempt by the state employee benefits committee to move 25,000 retirees to a Medicare Advantage Plan through Highmark Delaware. Some people who were upset by the planned change formed the advocacy group RiseDelaware and successfully sued the state to block the implementation.
Superior Court Judge Calvin Scott temporarily stayed the state’s decision in October 2022, saying, “This court cannot agree with the sentiment that the need for prior authorization for over 1,000 procedures and the use of only in-network doctors is the same level of benefits retirees obtained with the current policy.”
The subcommittee made several recommendations, including not utilizing a Medicare Advantage plan. It also proposed increasing OPEB pre-funding from 0.36% of payroll to 0.5%, then increasing it by an additional 0.25% of payroll each fiscal year until it reaches 10%. It also urged lawmakers to continue contributing 1% of the general fund from the prior year to the OPEB fund.
It also put forward changes to the length of service and the percentages paid by the state accordingly for Medicare-eligible retirees’ health care premiums hired on or after Jan. 1, 2025.
“I want Delaware to be the place people live, work, raise their families. And we want good state employees … because it’s our roads, it’s our schools. It’s our health system — every facet of daily life,” Hall-Long said. “Business is affected by how efficient our culture of excellence [is] in our status and our culture of excellence is only going to be as good as our employees. We need to make sure that we have the funding in place.”
Delaware
PennDOT, hardware stores prepare for first snow of season in Delaware Valley
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Crews and customers across the Delaware Valley are gearing up for the region’s first accumulating snowfall of the season, expected late Saturday into Sunday morning.
PennDOT says it has more than 100,000 tons of salt ready and plans to deploy over 400 trucks across the region for this event.
Road crews began brining operations Friday, which will continue through the weekend with plowing on Sunday.
READ MORE | Accuweather Alert: Light snow to blanket the region Saturday night into Sunday morning
“Maybe 1 to 3, maybe a little bit more depending on how the storm tracks,” said Brad Rudolph of PennDOT.
He added that timing is key with the snow beginning to fall on Saturday night, while many may be out and about, and with thousands expected to travel to Lincoln Financial Field Sunday for the Eagles game against the Raiders.
Preps underway for first snow of the season in Delaware Valley
“People are going to travel, they’re going to need to take it slow. We’re going to push back snow from travel lanes, we’ll make the roads passable. They may not be completely clear of snow and ice, something to consider,” Rudolph said. “We expect this storm to push out relatively early Sunday, well before that Eagles game, but we still might have some cleaning up to do. We’ll be working long after this snow is done.”
At Stanley’s Hardware in Roxborough, workers spent Friday unpacking boxes and moving thousands of pounds of salt and other supplies to fill commercial and individual orders.
“Our aisle is filled right now. We have tons of skids of rock salt, ice melter, shovels,” said Joe Jaconski of Stanley’s Hardware.
Customers were already stocking up.
“We have food, we have shovels, just had to get some salt just to make sure we’re keeping the sidewalks nice and safe for everyone,” said Matt Skomsky of Roxborough.
Customers were steady at Stanley’s Friday, and business is expected to pick up through the weekend, but managers say don’t wait to get ready.
“I recommend just being ahead of it. Try to beat the storm because when the storm comes, it gets very busy in here-the lines wrapped around,” Jaconski said.
PennDOT urges drivers to keep their distance from plow trucks and check the forecast before heading out.
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Delaware
Done Deal: 695 Delaware Avenue – Buffalo Rising
Ellicott Development has expanded it local property portfolio. Ellicott’s 4628 Group Inc. purchased 695 Delaware Avenue on Wednesday for $1.025 million. Fred Kaplan Living Trust was the seller. The 8,454 sq.ft., three-story barn-like structure with mansard roofed addition is occupied by media production and marketing firm Crosswater Digital Media. It was the home of WKBW radio for a number of years. The property totals 0.4 acres in size with a large parking lot fronting Delaware Avenue.
The property is bookended by the Westbrook Apartments and Wilcox House apartment buildings, both ten-story structures. It sits across the street from 700 Delaware, the former Computer Task Group Building Ellicott purchased in 2018 and is now occupied by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Delaware
Man, 77, dies after collision with teen driver near Hartly, police say
What to do if you come across a serious car accident
What to do if you come across a serious car accident
A 77-year-old man died following a two-car crash near Hartly on the morning of Dec. 10, Delaware State Police said.
The man, from the Dover area, has not been identified by police pending family notification.
According to police reports, the man was driving a Honda Accord east on Judith Road approaching Hartly Road about 9 a.m., as an 18-year-old woman was driving a Ford Focus south on Hartly Road approaching Judith Road.
Police reported that a preliminary investigation shows the Honda moved from the stop sign into the Ford’s path, causing a collision.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, from Hartly, was treated at the scene. Police said she refused to be taken to a hospital.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
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