DELAWARE - On Tuesday, Delaware Democrat Representative Kimberly Williams introduced House Bill 159. The goal of the bill, which has bipartisan support, is to amend Title 14 of the Delaware Code. That portion of the state code has to do with school property tax exemptions.
According to the bill's synopsis, in the aftermath of a county-wide property reassessment, it would give a county the authority to adopt an ordinance that would modify the amount of school property tax exemptions that were put in place before January 1, 1998. The stated goal of this change is to protect seniors and people with disabilities from a big tax increase after property values are reassessed.
HB 159 has already been assigned to the Education Committee in the House and will get a committee hearing within twelve legislative days.
If the bill makes it through both the state house and senate, it would take effect immediately upon being signed into law.
While HB 159 seeks to protect select groups from increases in school property taxes, it's not the only legislation related to how schools will be funded in the first state. This week, the Sussex County Council recommended adding a school impact fee to new construction projects in the county. That money would be used to help address overcrowded schools in Sussex County.