While most states are making deep spending cuts and raising taxes this year to balance recession-depleted budgets, Delaware lawmakers are preparing to do the opposite.
A projected $320 million surplus of taxes, fees and abandoned property has left Delaware state government's coffers flush -- and requests for the money plentiful.
It's a bonanza in Dover, as Gov. Jack Markell, legislators and special interest groups suggest seemingly endless ways to dispose of the surplus.
"If they could certainly spread that wealth around, it would be great," said Carolyn Fredricks, executive director of the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, whose organization asked for $40,000 in additional aid for its operations and $25,000 to pay off debt on a new building.
Ideas range from construction projects at state universities and fixing 300-year-old dikes along the Delaware River, to giving state employees pay raises, expanding the Port of Wilmington and resurfacing crumbling municipal and suburban streets.
Markell, a Democrat, and House Republicans have each floated separate proposals to reduce the tax burden for businesses, banks and individuals -- two years after the state raised taxes.
The Joint Finance Committee, a panel of senators and representatives, today will begin two weeks of budget-writing sessions to decide how to divvy up the money.
1 comment:
And with no sales tax. Go Delaware.
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