2023-4 state budgets pass House; head to Carney’s desk

The Delaware House on Thursday passed state budgets for 2023-24 and sent them to Gov. John Carney for his signature.

The Delaware House of Representatives passed four state budgets for the 2023-24 year in 15 minutes in a no-fuss set-em-up, knock-em-down run.

The bills’ next stop will be Gov. John Carney’s desk, because they passed the Senate on Tuesday.

“I think we have a budget that we can be proud of,” said Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna/Dover, and co-chairman of the budgets-writing Joint Finance Committee. “It’s just a difficult thing because you have to balance the budget with worthwhile requests and against the needs to be responsible and think to the future.”

He said the $5.1 billion operating budget did something for workers, teachers, school bus drivers, health care workers, fire department workers, families and more.

Rise in spending

The state’s operating budget for 2023-24, which takes effect July 1, is the largest in Delaware’s  history, reflecting a rise in spending of 6.9% in spending over the previous year, thanks to another $1 billion surplus.

Rep. Ruth Briggs King

The budget will use some of that money to increase Delaware’s Rainy Day Fund from $280 million to $316 million and the Budget Stabilization Fund from $287 million to $402 million.

Both funds can be used in the future during economic downturns. For example, the state took money out of the stabilization fund in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and revenues fell short.

Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown,  noted that even with the rise in spending, the budget was passed during inflationary times and included measures to help people cope with that.

“What I can support in this is that it also reflects the governor’s continued commitment to put money aside into the smoothing fundm, which will be so important when the years might not be as good as they are this year,” she said.

She praised the process of the Joint Finance Committee, which holds a series of public meetings with officials from around the state to talk about their requests and how they will spend the money.

“There’s accountability, there’s transparency, and there’s balance in what we’ve done,” Briggs King said. “So it’s easy for me to support this budget and the process.”

Kowalko on budget

Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, who is not running for re-election, noted this was his last chance to talk about a budget. He promised not to be Bonini-like — referring to Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover, who is known for making loquacious stands  — and admitted he was often Bonini-like but would not be Thursday.

He said the budget had “transformed our obligation” to constituents.

“So I am proud to say that not only will I have no questions, but I really want to offer my sincere thanks to the committee,” he said.

Among other things, the state budget adds $19 million to Delaware’s Purchase of Care program, with helps low-wage families afford childcare and after-school programs; $11.7 million to raise pay for bus drivers; $16.5 million the pay those who care for adults with disabilities, triggering a $27 million federal matching grant; $104 million to provide a 3% pension benefit increase for former state workers; $14.2 million to fund targeted education and support services for Wilmington students; and $4.7 million to restore the Senior Property Tax Credit to a maximum of $500.

Betsy Price

Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.