Budget & taxes in Delaware local government
What Delaware city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about budget & taxes — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
423 Delaware meetings since 2024 covered budget & taxes. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Delaware with the most budget & taxes activity
- New Castle County, DE (131)
- Dover, DE (41)
- Indian River School District, DE (39)
- Wilmington, DE (38)
- Milton, DE (37)
- Georgetown, DE (22)
- Smyrna, DE (19)
- Kent County, DE (17)
- Smyrna School District, DE (15)
- Seaford School District, DE (12)
- Bethany Beach, DE (10)
- Lewes, DE (10)
Latest matching meetings
Finance Committee to review budget amendments for senior grants and police retirement
The Administrative-Finance Committee will discuss several ordinances to amend the grants and operating budgets. These include funding for senior center arts and home repairs, as well as police retirement system funding.
Dover City Council to consider new Dual Employment Policy and street conduct ordinance
The City Council will discuss a proposed Dual Employment Policy recommended for approval by the Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee. The body will also consider the final reading of an ordinance regarding playing games and throwing objects in public streets.
Audit Committee to review annual financial statements
The Audit Committee will receive a report from accounting firm UHY LLP regarding the town's audit and financial statements. The body will discuss and potentially vote to accept these statements and review the town's insurance coverage.
Council will consider floodplain definition revisions and related ordinance changes
The Lewes Mayor and City Council work session will discuss several ongoing initiatives. Items include a presentation on new floodplain software, a review of right‑of‑way processes for properties along Pilottown Road, updates on the Governance Working Group’s ex‑officio roles, possible revisions to the Finance…
Commission will approve minutes from its March 17, 2026 meeting
The Dover Human Relations Commission will adopt the meeting agenda and approve the minutes from its March 17, 2026 session. Commissioners will receive reports on assessment, community programs, school programs, by‑laws, and finance. An open discussion period is scheduled, followed by setting the next meeting date for…
Committee to discuss update to treasurer evaluation tool
The Blue Hills Regional Vocational School Evaluation Subcommittee will meet on July 21, 2026 at 5:30 pm in Room W‑229. The agenda item is a discussion of an update to the Treasurer Evaluation Tool. No other agenda items are listed.
Finance Committee to review insurance portfolio and long-term financial planning
The Finance Committee will discuss the city's insurance portfolio and explore the use of a financial advisor for long-term planning. The body is also considering recommendations for committee bylaws and the process for accepting Sussex County property tax assessments.
Commissioners to receive downtown zoning presentation and monthly reports
The Board of Commissioners will review departmental updates including investment, police, and Alderman's Court reports. A key agenda item includes a presentation by Dover Kohl & Partners regarding downtown/commercial zoning updates from Charrette Week.
Town Council hears property assessment appeals, adopts final list
The Town Council will sit as a Board of Revision and Appeal to hear appeals from property assessments. They will then adopt a Resolution approving the final annual or quarterly supplemental Assessment List, including any changes or costs.
Budget & Finance Committee to review FY 2026 and FY 2027 financials
The Budget & Finance Committee will conduct a final review of the 2026 fiscal year. The committee will also review the first quarter of the 2027 fiscal year.
Removal of Delaware Opioid Settlement Funding Disbursement item
The Council Committee of the Whole will adopt the meeting agenda and hear reports from the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and At-Large districts. It will consider a proposed Dual Employment Policy presented by HR Director Naomi Poole, with staff recommending approval. The agenda notes that the Delaware Opioid…
Council to consider rezonings, sign code, and hazard mitigation plan
New Castle County Council will introduce several budget amendments and consider a consent calendar. Major action includes rezonings in multiple districts, amendments to sign regulations for electronic variable message signs, and adoption of the Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazard Mitigation Plan. The council will also…
County Council to discuss HUD application and FY2027 budget amendments
The Finance Committee will review resolutions to authorize a federal housing application and a financial advisory agreement, as well as amendments to council procedural rules. The committee will also discuss an ordinance appropriating funds for youth employment and review grant requests.
Committee will discuss FY2026‑27 long‑term fiscal solvency for Dover
The Special Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee will hold a discussion on the FY2026‑27 long‑term fiscal solvency, wealth, and health optimization of the capital of Delaware, led by Councilman Sudler and Councilman Lewis. No decisions are listed; the item is for discussion only. The meeting also…
Smyrna school board to elect officers, consider FY27 budget and tax rate
This is the board's re-organizational meeting where they will elect a president and vice president, appoint committee members, and set meeting dates for the 2026-2027 school year. They will also vote on the FY27 recommended tax rate and preliminary budget, several revised salary scales, and policy revisions including…
Council will adopt the FY 27 town budget and related utility fee resolution
The Middletown Town Council will vote on adopting the FY’27 budget and a resolution to set utility rates and fees. The meeting also includes review of several preliminary major land development plans and conditional use permit requests. Ordinance amendments for plumbing code, board procedures, and rezoning of 20 N…
Board to elect officers and set FY 2027 tax rates
The Indian River School District Board of Education will hold an organizational meeting to elect officers and approve the FY 2027 local tax rates. The meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2026, at Millsboro Middle School.
Budget committee agenda is only procedural boilerplate
This agenda contains only a generic meeting notice template with no specific items for discussion or decision. It includes a note about Massachusetts' extended remote meeting law through June 2027. The meeting appears to be purely procedural.
Town Council to consider swimming pool amendments, purchase orders
The Bethany Beach Town Council will meet on June 26, 2026, to discuss and take action on several items including a first reading of amendments to Chapter 500 regarding swimming pools. The council will also review a finance report for May 2026 and consider two purchase orders for JMT and EOD services.
Council to vote on $188k clarifier project contract for water department
The Town Council will consider and possibly vote on a revised scope of services proposal for the Water Department's Clarifier Project from JMT in the amount of $188,150. They will also discuss a contract for EOD services through Delaware State Police for $75,014.10, and set dates for the Town Council election and…
Middletown Council to review Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
The Mayor and Council will hold a special meeting to review the Capital and Operational budgets for Fiscal Year 2027. The agenda also includes an executive session to discuss personnel matters and specific non-public documents.
Board reviews FY27 grant requests and $2M federal education appropriation
The Downtown Dover Partnership Board will receive updates on its FY26 finances, an audit, and a refinance of 22‑24 W. Loockerman St. It will discuss several FY27 grant requests, including a $315,000 state grant, a roughly $600,000 transportation assistance request, and a $2 million federal appropriation for an…
Council to consider major UDC redevelopment amendments and multiple budget appropriations
The New Castle County Council will consider several ordinances including a significant amendment to the Unified Development Code regarding redevelopment, multiple budget appropriations for grants and capital projects, and a resolution to approve annexation by the City of Wilmington. The agenda also includes…
Committee to discuss special election date for Wilmington annexation
The Administrative-Finance Committee will review Resolution R26-133, which sets a date for a special election on annexation of property into Wilmington. It will also discuss multiple ordinances that amend the FY2026 capital and operating budgets, including appropriations for parks, reassessment, and debt service…
Committee reviews FY2027 grant budget amendments and HUD annual plan
The Community Services Committee is reviewing five ordinances to amend the grants budget for FY2027. The meeting includes a presentation on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2027.
City Council to vote on FY 2026/27 budget ordinance
The Dover City Council will adopt a consent agenda and consider several committee presentations. Council members will vote on a roof replacement contract for City Hall, a grant application for the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund, and a sole‑source purchase of the ZeroEyes gun‑detection system. They will…
Board to vote on 2026-2027 school meal prices and athletic ticket prices
The Indian River School District Board of Education will consider and possibly vote on several new business items, including 2026-2027 school meal prices, athletic ticket pricing for FY 2027, and School Choice Applications. They will also discuss SRO contract renewals, a tax relief request, and an air quality…
Commissioners to set tax rate, award PFAS water treatment contract, and hold hearing on outdoor dining patio
The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on an amended permit for an outdoor dining patio with alcohol service at The Blue Hen restaurant. They will consider awarding a contract for PFAS upgrades at Wells 7 and 8 water treatment facilities and a resolution setting the real estate tax rate for the next…
City Council approves budget with 4-3 vote, adopts Greater Downtown Plan
The Wilmington City Council passed the FY27 budget (General Fund appropriations) by a 4-3 vote and capital projects fund by 5-2. They also adopted the Greater Downtown Plan as an amendment to the comprehensive plan, approved a new fee schedule, and passed a consent agenda including contracts for pool management…
Subcommittee to review Superintendent-Director and administrator compensation
The DSC Personnel and Negotiations Subcommittee is meeting to review evaluation results and compensation for the Superintendent-Director. The body will discuss FY27 compensation and review individual administrator contracts to make recommendations to the District School Committee.
Smyrna Council to consider awarding a pavement bid
The Mayor and Council will meet to review the May 2026 financial report and decide on a contract for paving work. The meeting also includes the swearing-in of two new police officers.
Council to consider Pavement Bid award
The Smyrna Mayor and Council will hold a regular meeting including swearing in two police officers, discussing and potentially awarding a pavement bid, and reviewing the May 2026 financial report. The meeting is open to the public and can be viewed on YouTube.
Smyrna BOE authorizes bond sale for $4.1M, approves policies
The board approved a bond sale resolution for $4.1 million and FY 2025 projects, a change order for electrical work at Sunnyside Intermediate School, and a student transportation contractor for 2026-2027. They also passed first-reading revisions to the grading policy and diploma presentation policy, and approved…
City Council to discuss roof replacement, gun detection system, and Mary Street revitalization
The Dover City Council Committee of the Whole will meet to discuss the revitalization of the Mary Street Playlot, the awarding of a contract for the City Hall roof replacement, and the approval of a sole-source contract for a gun detection solution. The meeting also includes presentations on a Transfer on Death deeds…
Council to vote on annexation of lands by City of Wilmington
New Castle County Council will consider several ordinances including budget amendments for grants and capital projects, and a resolution approving annexation of certain lands by the City of Wilmington. A major land development plan for a 63,323 sq ft special needs school in Red Lion Hundred is also up for vote. Other…
County Council to discuss downtown development district and budget amendments
The New Castle County Finance Committee will review a resolution to submit the Claymont area as a Downtown Development District and discuss several budget amendments for community programs and grants. The meeting will be held virtually and in person.
Public Safety Committee discusses $793,000 appropriation for police duty fund
The Public Safety Committee will review an ordinance to amend the grants budget. The body will also receive updates on speed cameras, Flock cameras, and state funding for paramedics.
FY27 Budget and tax rates set for public hearing
The Levy Court will hold a public hearing on the FY27 budget ordinance, property tax rates, sewer assessments, and district tax rates. Other actions include introducing a data center zoning amendment, an ethics code repeal/replacement, and a lease for Delaware State Police office space. Resolutions opposing state…
Kent County Levy Court to hold public hearing on FY27 budget, tax rates
The Levy Court will conduct a public hearing on the FY27 budget ordinance and related resolutions setting property tax rates, sewer assessments, and library district taxes. Other business includes reintroducing an ethics code ordinance, introducing a data center zoning amendment, and considering a lease for Delaware…
Board approves 2026-27 budget with 3.5% tax hike
The Colonial School District Board approved the 2026-2027 final budget and related tax rates. The budget totals $168,847,053, and the real estate tax rate increased by 3.50% to 27.422 mills.