Facilities at William Penn will be among those that benefit from the state’s proposed 2025 Bond Bill, which pays for capital expenditures.
The state will invest $160 million for school projects in six districts and $100 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvements in state buildings, according to the $1.1 billion capital budget introduced Monday.
The $160 million for school construction projects is the largest amount of money designated and will go to Smyrna, Red Clay, Colonial, New Castle County Vo-Tech, Polytech and Christina school districts. It represents the state’s share of construction after all six districts applied for the construction money, were approved and then had to get residents to vote for tax increases to pay the district share.
The capital budget includes investments in roadway enhancements, school construction, state building renovations, economic development initiatives, and various projects to protect Delawareâs natural resources.
House Bill 475, known as the Fiscal Year 2025 Bond Bill, is created by the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, a 12-member panel of legislators who draft the stateâs capital spending plan.
HB 475 glided through the House and Senate Thursday with no comment on its contents.
“The capital budget is prudently financed with a combination of cash reserves and bond sales that limits and manages state debt,” said  Joseph Fulgham, director of Policy & Communications for the House Republican Caucus. “While there will always be disagreements about the individual items included in any omnibus bill of this size, the Bond Bill delivers value in long-lasting tangible assets that will serve our residents for years to come.”
The 2025 budget will be $300 million less than 2024’s $1.4 billion and ends a three-year run of rising bond bills, which were based on huge revenue surpluses. Delaware is not expected to have that kind of surplus in 2025 for a variety of reasons.
The 2024 Bond Bill is $1.409 billion, the second-largest in state history behind 2023’s record $1.458 billion capital spending plan. The 2022 bond was $1.350 billion and 2021 was $707.9 million.
The Bond Bill is one of four budgets the General Assembly must pass, including the general budget, one-time supplemental and grants-in-aid. But it doesn’t have to be passed by June 30 like the state budget does.
âThese investments have a real, tangible impact on peopleâs lives, whether itâs students attending new and upgraded schools, roads that are easier to travel, or clean water projects moving forward,â said Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Bellefonte, chair of the Joint Capital Committee, commonly referred to as the Bond Committee.
The projects financed by the budget include school, road and environmental efforts and serve as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth, Heffernan said.
“For several years now weâve been fortunate to make significant investments in the infrastructure improvements that Delawareans want and need to strengthen our state.
The Bond Bill includes $40 million for the Community Reinvestment Fund, which will provide funding for capital projects for Delaware community nonprofit and municipal organizations.
âMy Republican and Democratic colleagues on the Bond Committee deserve a lot of credit for putting together a strong job creation bill that continues our record of strong, sound investments in the infrastructure that keeps our communities running,,â said committee co-chair Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Wilmington.
Notable Bond Bill projects
- $352.7 million to complete road projects statewide, including additional funds to address the roads in the poorest condition.
- $160 million for school construction projects in the Smyrna, Red Clay, Colonial, New Castle County Vo-Tech, Polytech, and Christina school districts.
- $9.1 million for the School Safety and Security Fund.
- $10 million for affordable housing program support.
- $37 million toward economic development projects through the Strategic Fund, Site Readiness Fund, Lab Space, the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund, the Sports Tourism Capital Fund, the Downtown Development District Program, and a new Social Equity Fund.
- $27.7 million in Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
- $15.6 million for statewide park improvements including Bellevue State Park, White Clay Creek Nature Center, Killens Pond Water Park, Lums Pond, Fenwick Island State Park, and a feasibility study for the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier.
- $7.6 million for beach and dredging needs throughout the state.
- $5 million for Volunteer Fire Service Loan Revolving Funds to allow all fire companies to finance equipment and debt service.
- $100 million in statewide deferred maintenance, roof replacement, and capital improvement projects throughout state facilities.
- $26 million for the new Troop 4 in Georgetown.
- $25 million toward the new Kent and Sussex Family Courthouses for the fourth year of funding.
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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