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Delaware Policy Choices Caused the Property Tax Problem
Delaware Policy Choices Caused the Property Tax Problem
By Charlie Copeland
Center for Economic & Fiscal Policy
September 24, 2025
The recent property tax reassessment in New Castle County (NCC) has stirred public debate, with homeowners facing higher tax bills while many commercial properties saw their assessments fall. On the surface, this might seem like a quirk of appraisal methodology. However, a deeper examination reveals a more fundamental truth: Delaware and NCC's economic and fiscal policies, including restrictive land-use frameworks, have influenced the relative fortunes of residential and commercial property, thereby shaping the distribution of the
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Yes, Build Small Modular Reactors in Delaware
By David T. Stevenson, Director
Center for Energy & Environmental Policy
September 30, 2025. (updated 9/30/2025)
To determine whether it is wise to build nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) in Delaware, the state's Nuclear Energy Task Force must answer a list of questions. Many of those answers are already clear: we can and should build SMRs in Delaware.
Technical and Logistical Feasibility
In 2023, Dr. Kathryn Huff, then the U.S. Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, briefed Delaware's Governor's Energy Advisory Council on the administration's push to repurpose close...
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Featured Articles
HB 145: A Privacy-Protecting Bill that Reinforces the Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age
HB 145: A Privacy-Protecting Bill that Reinforces the Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age By Charlie Copeland Center for Economic & Fiscal Policy July 22, 2025 Although Delaware's regular legislative session ended on June 30, House Bill 145 (HB 145), a privacy-protecting bill, remains active. This is a crucial time for Delawareans to speak up - lawmakers are continuing to review bills, meeting with constituents, and preparing for the next session. It doesn't take a constitutional scholar to recognize the risk of letting government agencies collect data on thousands of innocent people just because someone, somewher...[read more]
Should Teachers Be Allowed to Choose Their Evaluations?
Should Teachers Be Allowed to Choose Their Evaluations? SB 165 weakens teacher accountability just as Delaware students fall further behind By Tanya Hettler, Ph.D. Center for Education Policy July 7, 2025 A bill sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, Senate Bill 165, titled "An Act to Amend Title 14 of the Delaware Code Relating to Student Improvement Component," has just passed in the Delaware General Assembly. The bill requires the Delaware Department of Education to pilot a new method of teacher evaluation that allows teachers to choose how they are evaluated and considers factors that may negatively affect student performance, s...[read more]
Delaware Slipping, Mississippi Rising: A Tale of Two States Changing Places
Delaware Slipping, Mississippi Rising: A Tale of Two States Changing Places Once ranked higher in education and income, Delaware now trails in key areas—while Mississippi climbs the ranks By Charlie Copeland Center for Economic & Fiscal Policy May 4, 2025 For decades, Delaware enjoyed a reputation as a high-performing state-economically sound, educationally competitive, and relatively stable. In contrast, Mississippi was often portrayed as lagging behind the rest of the country on nearly every metric. However, recent data tells a different story: Mississippi is making notable gains, while Delaware is losing ground. The economic and edu...[read more]
The Vision Coalition is Failing Delaware Students
The Vision Coalition is Failing Delaware Students By Tanya Hettler, Ph.D. Center for Education Policy May 4, 2025 Delaware is in the middle of a "literacy crisis" as both Delaware's Governor Meyer and Education Secretary Marten have acknowledged. Despite this, the Vision Coalition-an influential group that has guided education policy for nearly two decades-continues to prioritize "student-centered learning" over proven, evidence-based instruction. As reading and math scores remain low across the state, it's time to take a closer look at who is shaping Delaware's education agenda-and what they are prioritizing. &nb...[read more]