Wilmington – Governor John Carney, Democrat, said that taxes are going up on Delaware taxpayers due to a $350 million budget deficit.
In a recent interview on local radio Carney said “Our revenue is increasing at a rate slower than expenses, and most folks can understand the expenses that are driving that side of the budget, which are additional students showing up to Delaware public schools every year and health care costs, those two big things”
Carney added “we are too competitive–People move to our state because our property taxes are so low. I hear people who’ve moved here from Pennsylvania, from New Jersey, from New York: ‘I got a bill and I thought it was a quarterly or monthly payment.’ But that’s their payment for the year.”
In January Carney announced plans to meet and engage with members of the public on Delaware’s budget challenges during a “Budget Reset” listening tour. Below is a list of the remaining events.
- 6:00 p.m. – March 8 – Carlisle Fire Hall, Milford, hosted by Senator Gary Simpson and Representatives Harvey Kenton, William Outten, Charles Postles, and David Wilson
- 7:00 p.m. – March 16 – Thomas McKean High School, Wilmington, hosted by Representatives Deborah Hudson, Joseph Miro and Mike Ramone
- 8:00 a.m. – April 5 – Caffé Gelato, Newark, hosted by Representative Paul Baumbach
- 6:00 p.m. – April 10 – Delaware State Police: Troop 3, Camden, hosted by Representative Lyndon Yearick
- 7:30 a.m. – April 11 – ChesDel Restaurant, Middletown, hosted by Representative Kevin Hensley
- 7:30 p.m. – April 26 – Rose Hill Community Center, New Castle, hosted by Senator Margaret Rose Henry and Representative J.J. Johnson
Do you agree with Carney?
Do you think think the state needs to raise taxes on residents?
What ideas do you have to cut the state’s expenses?
We’ll get it started:
Some local schools and government building turn their exterior lights on two hours before the sky goes dark, is this money well spent?
Should public buildings even turn lights on in the evening hours?
Discuss the matter in the comments below.
Image Credits: John Carney