LEWES, Del. — Legal fees for the city of Lewes have more than doubled in recent years, raising questions about how taxpayer money is being spent.
The city spent about $321,000 in legal fees during fiscal year 2024. That figure increased to roughly $655,000 in fiscal year 2026.
The city has budgeted $375,000 for legal fees for fiscal year 2027, an increase of $100,000 from the previous year's budget. However, city budget documents show nearly $550,000 had already been spent on legal fees by February.
Mayor Marasco says an outside attorney, Luke Mette of Brockstedt Mandalas Federico LLC, will review the city's legal spending at no cost and provide recommendations to the mayor and City Council. Marasco hopes to have those suggestions by the council's September meeting.
Delawarean Jim O'Leary said the increase raises questions about transparency.
"Everybody wants to know why your tax dollars are being spent and they're being spent properly," said O'Leary.
Not everyone in Lewes considers the legal spending a major concern. Resident Michael Berkley said it is low on his list of priorities.
The review comes after the city's Board of Ethics received a complaint alleging a potential conflict of interest involving Mette. Mette previously served as attorney for the Lewes Planning Commission until last week.
The Board of Ethics determined the matter was outside its jurisdiction, clearing Mette to conduct the review.
The increase in legal fees comes amid several complaints and investigations involving city government, including a police grievance that has since been resolved, an investigation into a video that was removed before an election and a separate investigation into allegations of workplace harassment.
