Del. county officials violating state law, constitution by using outdated tax assessments to fund schools

DOVER, Del. – A state judge has issued a landmark ruling declaring that county officials in Delaware are violating state law and Delaware’s constitution in using woefully outdated property tax assessments to fund public schools.

On Friday, the judge ruled that the tax assessment schemes violate a law requiring property to be assessed at fair market value. The state law does not require reassessments on a specific schedule. We’re told the most recent assessments in each of the counties date back to 198, 1983, and 1974.

The judge also said that the counties are violating a constitutional requirement that property owners be taxed in a uniform manner.