Delaware

Delaware County considers 23% property tax increase as COVID-19 relief dollars run out

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

Delaware County considers 23% property tax increase as COVID-19 relief dollars run out

Delaware County councillors are preparing to approve a 23% property tax increase as the county faces steep budget shortfalls.

Officials faced forceful pushback from county residents concerned about rising costs of living in public meetings Tuesday and Wednesday, but insisted they were left with few options to maintain county services amid high inflation and as federal COVID-19 relief dollars ran out.

“No entity can deal with inflationary costs and a flat income. The math just does not work,” council member Kevin Madden said Wednesday. “We’ve held out hope that we could pull a rabbit out of the hat and continue to keep millage relatively flat … but for decades this county has kicked the can. They have failed to invest in their infrastructure.”

The council is set to vote on the increase and the county’s overall 2025 budget next week.

The proposed hike, county executive director Barbara O’Malley said, would equate to a roughly $185 increase annually for the typical homeowner in Delaware County, while a third of county homeowners would see an increase below $100.

O’Malley said the increase became necessary because Delaware County’s revenues had grown at slower rates than those in Philadelphia’s other collar counties and had not kept up with inflation. Delaware County Council voted last year to increase taxes by 5%, but after temporary federal pandemic relief dollars ran out, the more dramatic increase was necessary, O’Malley said.

“It was eventually going to end anyway, and we have to balance our budget year after year after year,” she said.

But the increase drove extreme frustration from members of the community in hours of public comment Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents argued they were already under increasing financial stress with high inflation and insisted the county should look for budget cuts rather than raising rates.

“If we lost our housing, we wouldn’t even be able to afford to get our apartment,” said Helen Struckmann, a Media resident whose husband is disabled.

Many speakers pointed to the increase as evidence of financial mismanagement by the Democratic-controlled board. They focused heavily on actions taken by the Democrats to increase county services, including creating a county health department and de-privatizing the county prison.

“The county needs to be like its citizens: It needs to find ways to cut costs,” said Todd Hall, a Havertown resident who addressed councillors Wednesday night.

But councillors argued that they’d worked hard to cut costs and said increases were primarily the result of rising wages for county workers across the board.

“As we’ve tried to fill exceedingly difficult positions to fill … we’ve had to pay more,” council member Christine Reuther said in an interview. “That, in a bigger way, has been what’s driving our expenses.”

Council vice chair Richard Womack said Tuesday he would prefer to hold off on increasing taxes and put together a commission to study the budget.

“I think right now we have sticker shock,” he said.

But most of the council showed reluctant support for the increase, blaming the 12 years with no tax increases under Republican leadership as the reason for the dramatic increase now.

Madden pointed toward a series of serious infrastructure problems and underfunded county services the Democratic-controlled council inherited in 2020, and said the tax increase came only after a series of efforts to tighten the budget.

“We have had more than a decade of disinvestment in what government does to provide services, and this board is in the position where we have to raise the revenue to invest and bring government to the level it needs to be to serve the public,” council member Elaine Schaefer said Tuesday.

Schaefer said she believed the increase could have been lower and said Tuesday she wasn’t yet sure whether she would vote for the increase.

The other three members — Madden, chair Monica Taylor, and Reuther — indicated support for the increase. As inflation continues to increase, Taylor said, further increases may be necessary in future years.

“I don’t take a tax increase lightly and implementing something like that, and I really do worry about our residents who are on fixed incomes and our residents who are already struggling to make ends meet,” Taylor said in an interview. “But I also have to be mindful of the services that we need to provide and are, in most instances, mandated to provide.”

Source link

Related Topics:delco-property-tax-increase Featured

Click to comment

Delaware

Visiting Delaware beaches this summer? What’s different in 2026

Published

7 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

Visiting Delaware beaches this summer? What’s different in 2026

Every year in the wintertime, Delaware beaches undergo a transformation.

Stores and restaurants close, stores and restaurants open, rules change. By Memorial Day weekend, for the most part, everything is in its place, and ready to serve the masses.

This winter, the price of parking went up in Lewes, several storefronts and restaurants changed hands in Rehoboth Beach, and notable changes were made further south.

If you’re among the more than 7 million visitors headed to Delaware beaches in late spring or summer, or even if you’re just a local who hasn’t gotten out much lately, here’s what’s changed in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island as the season heats up.

Rehoboth Beach

The osprey are still nesting atop the fire siren in Rehoboth Beach, but “The Nation’s Summer Capital” has one change this year visitors are sure to notice.

Two drop-arm or swing gates and numerous bollards are being or have been installed in the area of the boardwalk and bandstand on Rehoboth Avenue. Bollards are sturdy, vertical posts designed to prevent vehicles from driving onto sidewalks or the boardwalk, while the drop-arm or swing gates will provide access to emergency vehicles.

Over on the corner of Wilmington Avenue and Bayard Avenue, there’s an empty space where several restaurants once stood. Many remember it as home to the beloved Chez La Mer in the 1980s and 90s, but it was demolished over the winter. It’s slated to become a two-story building with retail on the first floor and an apartment on the second.

What’s happening with the two major hotel projects on the boardwalk? Nothing right now. Construction on the planned One Rehoboth hotel is paused until the fall, and demolition to make room for the planned Belhaven has not yet begun, either.

New and closed Rehoboth restaurants

The Market at 59 Baltimore is Chef David Kneller’s new gourmet grab-and-go kitchen, with the concept’s adjacent restaurant to open in the coming weeks.

Across the street at 58 Baltimore Ave., Frank & Louie’s became Pazzo Italian last fall. Don’t worry, you can still get your favorite sandwiches.

Over at 204 Rehoboth Ave., the tiny Gather Alfajores is open, featuring the South American shortbread cookies with a dulce de leche center and other artisanal baked goods.

Pink Flamingo, at 222 Rehoboth Ave., opened in late 2025. It has just about every dessert item you can think of, but is best known for its viral desserts: Dubai chocolate, “freakshakes” and trompe-l’œil cakes.

At 47A Rehoboth Ave., signage is up for Ledo’s Pizza in the former Five Guys space, but no other details are known yet. At 46 Baltimore Ave., the tapas-style Sea Hag Champagne Lounge is expected to open soon.

Coho’s Market at 305 Rehoboth Ave. is closed and will be the new home of JAM Bistro. Eden restaurant, located for a long time at 53 Baltimore Ave., moved out to 20200 Coastal Highway.

In First Street Station, Jerk and Jambalaya opens May 16, serving Caribbean and soul food. Also in First Street Station, White House Black Market and Tidepool Toys and Games have closed.

The Point Coffee House & Bake Shoppe, located where Rehoboth Avenue meets Coastal Highway, closed in March. One of the owners, Jennifer Zerby, said the property is being prepared to be sold.

On the boardwalk, Baja Bob’s is the now The Dunes. It’s beneath Above the Dunes restaurant – get it? All three are owned by Bob Frankis.

Out on Coastal Highway, Kaja Asian recently opened in Midway Center, from the owners of and in the former location of Palm Beach Bar & Grill. Also in Midway Center, 1776 Steakhouse has been fully renovated and is under new ownership.

Iron Hill Brewery, at 19791 Coastal Highway, closed abruptly last year. It’s planned to become Three Notch’d Brewery, but an opening date is not yet known.

In Tanger Outlets Seaside, signage is up for Dave’s Hot Chicken, but no other details are known yet.

The downtown Rehoboth Beach Starbucks closed in September, too. Rehoboth Beach Running Company moved into that space from just a few doors down in The Shops at the Pearl.

New and closed Rehoboth stores

Lia Lane Boutique will soon open at 146 Rehoboth Ave., No. 3, which was last a sunglasses shop.

High Tide Fibers is open at 36 Baltimore Ave., formerly home to Grace Boutique, and Coastal Corner is open in Rehoboth Avenue’s Penny Lane, in a space formerly home to Penny Lane Lighting.

Enjoy thrifting? All Saints Parish Thrift Shop in the Forgotten Mile closed and is now located in Midway Center. Another location is expected to open soon in the former Old Wood Delaware building on Route 9 in Harbeson.

There’s also a brand-new thrift store in the Forgotten Mile. Ocean Blue Thrift Store is located at 20644 Coastal Highway.

And, of course, Rehoboth is home to Tanger Outlets. Sephora, lululemon and Vuori are all opening soon in Tanger Outlets Surfside. Eddie Bauer is on its way out.

Lewes

The biggest change in Lewes this year is that the cost of parking has gone up.

Starting May 1, meters are now $3 per hour at the beach and $2 per hour downtown from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

New and closed Lewes restaurants

The Lewes Diner, at 1201 Savannah Road, closed last year and is now home to Vino Del Mar, a restaurant and wine bar. A Hopkins Creamery store is set to open next door.

Rare Steak and Seafood is now open in in the Weis shopping center at the Villages of Five Points, taking the space that used to be Ocean Grill. The building has been fully renovated.

Acai favorite Bountiful Bowls has moved from its location on Dreamweaver Lane to the Shoppes at Lewes, at 412 E. Savannah Road.

Also at the Shoppes at Lewes, the Daily Market is being renovated and will become Market 1631. A sign in the window says it will feature snacks, deli, ice cream, grab-and-go and groceries.

Out on Coastal Highway (or just off it), after Bob Evans closed last year, 34571 Postal Lane became a First Watch.

New and closed Lewes stores

Several storefronts have changed on Second Street.

At 111 and 113 Second St., Deanna’s and Piccolino closed and Lewes Dry Goods Co. opened. Across the street at 114, Henlopen Trading Co. closed and Lula Blue, a home accessories shop, opened. At 130 Second St., Gypsy Myst closed and is now Flair, a women’s boutique.

On Front Street, The Stepping Stone is closed and Lewes Artists’ Gallery opened in its place.

On Third Street, Old Wood Delaware closed and will become Moon Coins Market, according to Lewes Chamber of Commerce President Betsy Reamer. Moon Coins is from Megan Collective, which also owns Bramble & Brine at The Buttery and other restaurants. The Moon Coins website says it will feature coffee, donuts, cookies and flowers.

Dewey Beach

Metered parking will begin at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. in Dewey Beach this year, starting May 15. The price is the same at $4 an hour.

Iconic Dewey bar The Starboard has upgraded from an outdoor dining tent to a permanent pavilion. The shark head has been moved to the front of the pavilion and now stretches over the sidewalk.

Also, move over Rehoboth Beach. Dewey Beach now has its own inconvenient osprey nest, atop a crane adjacent to the bay on Rodney Street.

Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach also adjusted paid parking times this year, making it 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. townwide.

Expect the post office downtown to be a lot busier this year. The Ocean View Post Office remains closed and much of its business has moved to Bethany.

New and closed Bethany Beach restaurants

The Blue Crab, at 210 Garfield Parkway, closed last year after 22 years. It is now home to Claws Seafood House.

Stop N Go Taco has opened a second location at 761 Garfield Parkway, in addition to its original Rehoboth Beach location.

The Bethany area – down Route 26 in Millville – also has a new entertainment addition. High Tide VR offers immersive virtual reality arenas at 35246 Atlantic Ave.

Fenwick Island

Fenwick Island Social, a barbecue restaurant, is the latest thing in Fenwick Island, having taken the place of Fenwick Crab House at 100 Coastal Highway.

Also new in Fenwick is Perfectly Pretty boutique, in Ocean Bay Plaza at 1300 Coastal Highway.

Reach Shannon Marvel McNaught at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

Source link

Delaware

Who governs matters: Why school board elections deserve your attention

Published

19 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Who governs matters: Why school board elections deserve your attention

School board elections are one of the highest-leverage, lowest-participation decisions in Delaware. Turnout is low. Margins are small. In some cases, candidates run without a real contest. When voters do not engage, leadership is not selected. It is decided by default. When governance is decided by default, the system performs accordingly.

It’s clear that when residents fail to vote, it can have consequences — ones that most people recognize, but rarely connect to the ballot box. It shapes whether schools are focused on clear priorities or pulled in competing directions. It determines whether resources are invested in what improves student outcomes or spread thin. Those decisions show up in real ways: in the preparedness of students, the confidence of families, and the strength of Delaware’s workforce and economy.

In 2024, fewer than 5% of eligible voters cast ballots in Delaware school board elections, even as concern about outcomes, funding, and district leadership remained high across every sector of public life. The disconnect between what communities demand and how they participate is one of the most significant, and most solvable, barriers to progress in our state.

Data from the 2026 Delaware Opportunity Outlook reinforce this disconnect. A majority of Delawareans believe school board members have a direct influence on the quality of K–12 education, yet far fewer report understanding how improvement efforts are being carried out, or how decisions are made at the local level. In other words, people believe boards matter, but are not consistently using the one mechanism they have to influence who serves and how decisions are made.

What governing actually requires

A strong board member asks clear, outcome-focused questions and expects specific answers. They connect decisions to priorities, work through tradeoffs with colleagues, and ensure decisions are understood before the board moves forward. They listen for whether information reflects progress or activity, and press for clarity when it does not.

These are not intuitive responsibilities. They require preparation. School board governance is often treated as something individuals can step into without training, but these are complex roles that involve setting priorities, interpreting data, making tradeoffs, and ensuring decisions lead to results over time.

The Delaware Opportunity Outlook suggests that this is not how the role is widely understood. While Delawareans recognize that school boards influence the quality of education, far fewer identify training and professional preparation as essential.

That gap has direct consequences. As the state advances new priorities, the effectiveness of those efforts will depend on whether local board members are prepared to implement them, monitor progress, and make results visible.

Delaware’s moment

Delaware has established a clear direction for public education: defined priorities, a statewide literacy commitment, and a funding reform that will place significant new responsibilities on local boards. Plans set direction. Boards determine whether those plans turn into results.

What happens next will not be determined by those plans alone. It will be determined by how effectively school boards translate those priorities into decisions, how consistently they track progress, and whether they make results visible to the public.

Candidate evaluation

Evaluating a candidate is straightforward: Can they name a small number of district priorities and explain why those matter? Can they describe what data they would review regularly and how they would use it? Can they explain how resources should align to outcomes and what they would do if results do not improve? Candidates who can answer those questions demonstrate an understanding of the role. Those who cannot speak to governance beyond the issues that brought them to the race may find the role more demanding than they anticipated.

Make your voice heard

Voting in a school board election is one of the few places where individual participation has a direct and immediate impact on how the system performs. School board elections are decided by small numbers of voters. Your decision to engage, or not, determines who governs. Choosing not to participate is not neutrality. It is a choice, and it carries the same weight as the vote itself.

Today, a decision will be made about who governs Delaware’s schools. You can be part of that decision, or it will be made without you. Either way, the results will show up in classrooms, in communities, and in the long-term strength of this state.

Find out who is running. Evaluate them on the work the role requires, not only on the positions they hold. Vote, and encourage others to do the same.

For more details about voting in today’s elections, visit First State Educate’s 2026 School Board Elections page.