No means testing is done for the disabled veterans and senior property tax credits. (Unsplash)

Legislators call for means testing for property tax credits 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Calls to consider means testing before granting veteran and senior housing tax breaks shocked a legislative committee last month. Delaware’s secretary of finance doesn’t think an income-based means test for property tax breaks is likely.  Even so, Rick Geisenberger did say that a means test based on property values not only could happen, but should.  “Seniors get a lot of …

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long spoke on the state of early education in Delaware.

Report: Despite early childhood ed gains, some kids need help

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Generally praising Delaware’s investments in early childhood education, a state panel also said “a tremendous number” of underserved children don’t have access to it because of a lack of teachers and the cost of childcare. That puts them at a disadvantage when they go to kindergarten, said the final report from the Delaware Early Childhood Advisory Committee.  The teacher shortage …

Legislative Hall livestreaming

Livestreaming of meetings seems set to stay at Leg Hall

Rachel Swick MavityGovernment, Headlines

  As the Delaware General Assembly prepares to reconvene Tuesday for the start of its 152nd session, livestreaming of meetings seems set to stay. Nobody seems sure yet whether members of the House or Senate will be able to continue to vote remotely. After fighting the livestreaming of meetings for years, the General Assembly started doing that when the COVID-19 …

Tax Sexuality

2022 Rewind: History favors Ramone, numbers favor Burns in Pike Creek race

Charlie MegginsonHeadlines, Government

This story was originally published in October 2022 A suburban New Castle County race for state House is turning into one of most hotly-contested battles of this year’s general election. Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Ramone, who has been in office since 2009, faces Democrat Dr. Frank Burns for the South Pike Creek seat — one of the last held by Republicans in the …

GOP delaware 1

2022 Rewind: Republican Party must change to win, leaders say

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in November 2022. Republicans did not fare well in Delaware’s Nov. 8 election. Democrats widened their majority in the state Senate, maintained the balance of power in the House, and won every election for statewide elected offices. In the wake of the Republican wallop, some party leaders are hoping the party will begin to move …

GOP delaware 1

ICYMI: Delaware GOP needs to change, leaders say

Charlie MegginsonHeadlines, Government

Republicans did not fare well in Delaware’s Nov. 8 election. Democrats widened their majority in the state Senate, maintained the balance of power in the House, and won every election for statewide elected offices. In the wake of the Republican wallop, some party leaders are hoping the party will begin to move in a more productive direction — one that …

GOP delaware 1

Delaware GOP leaders: Party needs change to win

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Republicans did not fare well in Delaware’s Nov. 8 election. Democrats widened their majority in the state Senate, maintained the balance of power in the House, and won every election for statewide elected offices. In the wake of the Republican wallop, some party leaders are hoping the party will begin to move in a more productive direction — one that …

Rep. Mike Ramone, left (State of Delaware) won the election over Dr. Frank Burns (Facebook/Frank Burns)

Rep. Mike Ramone prevails in election recount

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A recount in a northern Delaware state representative race confirmed the earlier reported results. Rep. Mike Ramone, R-Pike Creek, defeated Democrat Frank Burns by 41 votes in the recount — up from 35 votes in the earlier count. “One of the most important parts of our elections is the integrity of the system,” Ramone said. “I am proud to be …

Mike Ramone recount

History favors Ramone, numbers favor Burns in Pike Creek race

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A suburban New Castle County race for state House is turning into one of most hotly-contested battles of this year’s general election. Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Ramone, who has been in office since 2009, faces Democrat Dr. Frank Burns for the South Pike Creek seat — one of the last held by Republicans in the state’s northernmost county. Before entering …

Realty transfer tax

Delaware’s realty transfer tax to remain highest in nation

Charlie MegginsonHeadlines, Government

Delaware will remain the state with the highest realty transfer tax in the nation after a bill to decrease the tax died in the General Assembly.  Introduced by Rep. Bill Bush, D-Dover, House Bill 358 would have cut the tax from 4% of a property’s sale price to 3% — the level it was at prior to 2017 when the …