Carney state of the state

Carney’s State of State, despite hecklers, focuses forward

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Gov. John Carney’s last State of the State speech, meant to be a review of his administration’s achievements and a push for the state to tackle thorny issues, was interrupted four times by hecklers who seemed to be referencing the Israeli invasion of Gaza. The first heckler started shortly into the speech and was removed, and a few minutes later …

Bujdget

Carney’s proposed $6.1 billion 2025 state budget up 9% from 2024

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Gov. John Carney‘s proposed 2025 state budget of $6.1 billion pours $2.1 billion into education, $2 billion on healthcare for employees, retirees and Medicaid recipients, and $129 million into environmental initiatives. It’s another record state budget, up nearly 9% from 2024’s $5.6 billion. Nearly 65% of the growth in the budget over last year’s is salary policy and health-related costs, …

TSD Review Jan 25

TownSquareLIVE Weekly Review – January 25, 2024

Sonja FreyTown Square Live, Weekly Review

This Week’s Top Headlines Include Expanded Wilmington Airport among DRBA’s $132.7M capital plan Judge: Cabela’s can’t hide behind fed issues in stolen ammo case Fenwick mayor: Wind farm deal ‘rushing to outcome’ Student loan borrowers could get Bill of Rights St George’s wins a thriller at Odessa Click on the image below to view the PDF Sonja Frey

insurance

State worker health insurance to rise 22%, add $50M cost

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The state of Delaware will need at least an additional $50 million dollars in fiscal 2025 to pay for increases in the cost of employee health insurance, which is expected to see premium rises of up to 22%. Ruth Ann Miller, controller general, said the program will have a shortfall of $15 million by April 1 and will need $22 …

TSD Review Dec 28 YearInReview

TownSquareLIVE Weekly Review – December 28, 2023

Sonja FreyTown Square Live, Weekly Review

This Year’s Top Headlines Include Oaths of office open most diverse General Assembly ever EastSide breaks ground on $25 million community STEM hub Delaware House passes bill to make EpiPens more affordable Marijuana legal in Delaware Sunday; Carney won’t sign, veto Division of Alcohol starts process to create legal pot industry First new Wilmington school in 50 years topped off …

wind farm

State starts negotiating wind farm cable landing at Seashore park

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

Delaware will negotiate a deal with US Wind for its two wind farms, including a $350,000 a year cable landing on Delaware Seashore State Park, as well as energy credits and funding for workforce and environmental projects. The move comes after years of public controversy over whether wind power is a viable renewable source of energy and will reduce costs …

revenue

State heading into years of near-level revenues, board says

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Delaware can expect a revenue surplus of $364.8 million heading into the 2025 fiscal year. It can also expect a few years of plateaued revenues instead of the nearly $1 billion surpluses of recent years. Some legislators would argue the state doesn’t have surplus in reality, because that money will be needed for expected rises in costs for a number …

School funding

Report on school funding changes to be released Tuesday

Betsy PriceEducation, Headlines

  A mounting sense of anticipation surrounds Tuesday’s release of a report making suggestions about how to improve Delaware’s school funding system to make state education more equitable. The assessment — which the state paid $700,000 for — was conducted by the national research firm American Institutes of Research. It sprange out of the settlement of a 2020 lawsuit that …

DNREC regulations electric vehicles

DNREC finalizes EV regulations. Critics are not impressed

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

DNREC has finalized state regulations about electric and other zero emission vehicles it says will help Delaware achieve lower air pollution caused by light- and medium-duty cars,. Instead of demanding that by 2035 all new car sales in Delaware must be electric, the program will end in 2032 when sales are expected to hit 82%. That will address many of …

The PECC has finalized its suggestions on increasing educator pay in Delaware.

Pay panel to give Carney educator salary proposals next month

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Raises seem likely to be on the way for all Delaware educators, from teachers to bus drivers to custodians and everything in between. The state Public Education Compensation Committee will submit its recommendations to Gov. John Carney’s office by Nov. 15. Whatever salary recommendations he includes – the committee’s or another version – in his proposed budget for fiscal year …