DE Legislative session provides money for local economy

The Delaware legislative session went into the wee hours of Wednesday morning, but finally, budgets were agreed upon and passed.

The operating budget, which takes care of things like keeping police on the streets, and paying teachers, increased by 2.6%. The $3.9 billion budget may have saved several Delaware state police jobs. With the threat of cutting over $1 million from the department, 22 troopers could have been laid off but luckily that funding was restored in the budget.

Next a capital budget passed totaling $456.3 million dollars to provide for projects like road construction and school renovations. One project, The Lewes Public Library, will receive $2 million for improvements.

47 ABC spoke with Representative Lyndon Yearick who says, with all the money that is being distributed, it’s going to mean putting more people to work.

Yearick tells 47 ABC, “The direct jobs that the constructions going to be providing and than the indirect jobs, supporting those jobs and then other retaining business and hopefully not just retaining but growing businesses.”

Some more good news? Under the Grant and Aid Budget passed. 13 senior centers in Sussex County will receive more than $2 million collectively to fund operations.