Residents react to Sussex Tech funding bill

A relief on the funding crisis at Sussex Tech High School may soon come at the cost of area residents.

Republican house leader Danny Short says “It’s been tough for legislators. We didn’t want to deal with this. We prefer they financially solve them on their own, so this is what we came up with.”

House lawmakers in Delaware passed a bill Thursday to allow the school district to temporarily raise taxes for residents. While it still has to pass the Senate, the goal is to shore up finances at the school after a recent increase in enrollment.

Currently, the rate stands at 23.5 cents per $100 of assessed  property value, which is roughly eight-dollars a year for an average household in Sussex County. The new legislation would raise the rate to 29 cents for 2016 and 30 cents for 2017. Short says at most, this will result in an additional average of 10 dollars each year, before eventually dropping to its current rate.

“Politically, this a consensus agreement between most of the Sussex county legislators both on the house side and the senate. Some folks say, couldn’t you do better? The answer is no. Some say, could you worse and the answer is no as well.” Explains Short.

Admittedly, Short says not everyone will be happy with the agreement. 47 ABC spoke to Seaford resident Thomas Tucker, who says he does not agree with the proposed hike.

“If it got through the House and they want to give a temporary house rate, whichever way it goes…most people would think it’s not going to be temporary, so I’m not in favor of it. I think there’s another way to do things.” Says Tucker.

Other residents like Laurel resident Bonnie Walston say the rates are small prices to pay.

“I think it’s a good thing because I did go to Sussex tech and i have a niece that’s there now and the programs they have there, they help kids ensure good jobs…give them the training. It’s not just “I’m getting out of school and then what do I do next?” Says Walston.

The bill also requires the high school to reduce enrollment to no more than 1,250 students by the 2017 school year.

It now moves on to Senate for a first approval.