Sussex County's reassessment appeal period yielded less than 1% of residents appealing. (Photo by BrianAJackson/iStock Getty Images)

Sussex Co. property reassessment appeal period ends with minimal, less than 1%, disputes

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

After years of anticipation and preparation, Sussex County’s property reassessment process has concluded with minimal controversy. As of March 31, the deadline for property owners to appeal their updated assessments, fewer than 800 appeals were submitted—less than 1% of the nearly 200,000 residential and commercial properties in the county. “We did think since there hasn’t been a reassessment done in …

Appeals to new Sussex County property reassessments begin March 1.

Sussex reassessments almost done, appeal process to begin

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Sussex County is nearing the completion of its extensive property reassessment project, which has been underway for several years. The reassessment, which covers nearly 200,000 parcels across the county, is a crucial step in ensuring fair and accurate property valuations, following a 2018 education funding lawsuit. The NAACP of Delaware and Delawareans for Educational Opportunity filed a lawsuit against the …

A letter like this is telling all New Castle County property owners their "new tentative assessed value."

NCCo property reassessment letter goes out. Unwarranted fury ensues.

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

Homeowners throughout New Castle County have just received property reassessment letters giving them the “new tentative assessed value” of their property. And they’re mostly upset, judging from comments on Facebook, because the change is huge and they fear their taxes will go up as much. That’s wrong. “The tax rate will decrease; therefore, DO NOT multiply your new tentative assessed …

Sussex County residents will be the next to receive letters of property reassessment after Kent County sent letters out in late 2023.

Sussex residents to get property reassessment values in fall

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

The homeowners of Sussex County can expect to receive the long-awaited letters of property reassessment this fall. “Kent County is actually a year ahead of us, so ours is not going to be complete until this time next year,” said Chris Keeler, director of assessment for Sussex County, “So it’ll be spring of 2025 before the project is completed, and …

Kent County is the first to have its property reassessments completed. (Photo from The Law Firm of Bingaman Hess)

Kent County residents first to see new property values 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Kim Patterson Luton of Dover got a Christmas present nobody would want: A letter detailing the new reassessment of her family’s property. The letter, which arrived in mid-December, concerned property built in 2005 and long assessed at $59,300. Under the new evaluation, her home is assessed at an eye-popping $419,300.   “My husband and I are seniors and living on fixed …

LegHallEvening

Bill to stop school boards hiking property tax is tabled

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A bill that would ban a local school tax increase after the statewide property reassessment is completed was tabled Wednesday in the House Educaiton Committee after a lengthy discussion. House Bill 42, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would remove the up-to-10% increase in school property taxes that current law would allow schools boards to levy. Rep. Rich Collins, …