No other organization in Delaware does what we do at the Caesar Rodney Institute: provide in-depth, non-partisan analyses of public policy issues and advocate in Dover for better policies_OLD related to economics, the state budget, energy issues and education policy. Every day CRI makes a difference in Delaware. You can help by investing in the CRI policy Center that focuses on the issues of most concern to you.  CRI is a 501(c)(3) , so your contribution is tax deductible to

How will the new fee levied on glass containers affect Delawares gross receipts revenue?

March 28, 2013  I appreciate Delaware Director of Economic Development (DEDO) Alan Levins recent response in the News Journal to my assessment of the condition and immediate future of the Delaware economy ("Writer Misrepresents Delawares Economic Health" March 15, News Journal). I believe readers would benefit from my response. First, Alan is correct that when dealing with change the starting point chosen can make a substantial difference. While Delaware lost jobs between Jan

The sales tax in Pennsylvania is a hefty 6%, while because of the gross receipts tax, the perception is that the sales tax in Delaware is zero. How much of an impact does this have on retail trade in Delaware?   The chart within the full article compares retail sales per $1,000 of residential personal income in New Castle County (NCC) to that of Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania combined. The results are exactly what one would expect. Residential personal income i

Elongated COVID-19 'Emergency' Severely Damaged Delaware Balancing powers between Executive and Legislative branches in emergencies By Charlie Copeland, Director Center for Economic & Fiscal Policy April 11, 2024     " NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN C. CARNEY, pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 31 of the Delaware Code, do hereby declare a State of Emergency in Delaware. This State of Emergency will be effective as of Friday, March 13, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. E.S.T., and shall continue until t

Go West young Delaware techie... CA, OR, & WA receive almost 20% of Delaware's net outbound migration.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending January 26, 2024     Our previous analyses discuss Delaware's inbound migration of retirees from our regional neighbors (PA, NJ & MD) and outbound migration to the more prosperous Southeast (FL, TX & NC). This final analysis in the "Migration Series" focuses on outbound migratio

Delawareans are Moving to these Three Southeast States FL, TX, and NC receive almost one-third of Delaware's net outbound migration.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending December 22, 2023       Some Delawareans could be retiring or moving to warmer climes; could they also be relocating for other reasons, like better economic opportunities? According to the most recent available data  from the  US Census Bureau , 31.

Is Delaware Attracting Families or just Retirees? CRI broadens its migration analysis to cover other key factors.    By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending November 14, 2023       Last year, CRI published a migration  analysis  showing Delaware's inbound and outbound migration trends over a decade. Focusing on inbound migration, our May 2022 analysis implied that only retirees were moving to Delaware. But let's test thi

DE 'Off' Budget Funding Belongs 'In' Budget These "off" budget bills hide spending growth and are bad policy.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending July 25, 2023     The Delaware General Assembly passed a $5.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2024. For Delaware's approximately 380,000 households , that is the equivalent of $14,736 per household. That is A LOT of money.   Randall Chase, a widely known veteran reporter i

Bill Alert: Delaware Legislators Want Taxpayers to Pay Union Dues for State Employees and Others   Taxpayers should NOT be financially responsible for any union membership dues. Defeat SB 72.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending June 9, 2023     "All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.    It has its dist