Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed into law six bills and one resolution that passed a special legislative session designed to address residents’ anger over high tax bills that followed recent property reassessments.
According to combined media reports, homeowners demanded action after facing thousands of dollars of increased county and school taxes after property values were reassessed for the first time in decades.
The bills that were passed into law included the following:
- House Bill 242 that allows school districts to set different tax rates for residential and commercial properties
- House Bill 240 that enables allow residents who successfully appeal their property values to be eligible for direct cash refunds
- House Bill 241 that requires residents be offered a payment plan during the first tax year following a general reassessment if their tax bill increases by $300 or more
- Senate Bill 203 to codify that counties have the authority to set separate property tax rates for residential and non-residential properties
- Senate Bill 204 that affirms all municipalities can set different rates for residential and non-residential properties without needing a charter change
- Senate Bill 202 that requires New Castle County to submit data on property parcels enrolled in payment plans to members of the General Assembly, the governor and certain state agencies on a quarterly basis
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 122 that calls for a statewide review of the reassessment process to make sure future reassessments are conducted fairly, transparently and equitably
In a statement, the governor declared, “Delaware for generations has prided itself in quality schools and affordable communities. We still, together, have a lot of work to do but today’s special session was a step in the right direction.”
Photo: Jeremy Poland / iStock
That’s not tax relief. Sounds like bureaucratic double talk.
Yes, its government double talk. All the school districts, counties and municipalities need to do is increase their tax rate per $100 when their increasing budgets need more money. It’s a shame. There is little tax relief here. Property taxes need to be taken away from them and put into control of state government. Here the legislature can pass a permanent 1% tax on residential assessed values, 2% on rental homes assessed values and 3% on apartments and commerical/industrial properties assessed values. Farms could get a special break like 0.25% of assessed value. This way they can’t monkey around with the rates causing more imbalances and consumer gouging. If the schools need more money then they need to go to the state legislature to get their extra monies from the general fund. If the assessed values are going up then that means the fair market value of properties are rising and thus its only fair that they pay more for in property taxes. States like Illinois are suffering from overburdening property taxes too. That state has been so mismanaged for years that any property tax relief while needed will be very hard to achieve. This big dog (government) will always be looking to get more revenues than the increases they get on higher wages. In my opinion only conservative politicians in charge can achieve proper corrective taxation. Here in Indiana for the most part we have achieved property tax relief that has minimized the burdens while still paying our fair share.