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Builders must contribute to schools

April 19, 2024

No doubt that Sussex County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Delaware. All one has to do is drive anywhere and see massive construction of homes.

Most homes start in the mid-$400,000 range or higher.

The first Cape Henlopen School District referendum failed, as many know, with more than 7,000 residents voting. A second vote is scheduled for the end of May with some changes, most notable, the pool issue.

As a resident, I don't understand why all developers or builders in Sussex County don't somehow contribute to our massive growth when it comes to schooling or even our healthcare systems. I realize our county and other counties do get money from the transfer tax.

I learned Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, successfully passed a bipartisan voluntary school assessment bill requiring developers to pay a per-unit fee to help our schools, but Sussex County Council declined to consider it earlier this year. A VSA is utilized in Kent and New Castle counties. Again, this bill was bipartisan, no less.

With this second upcoming vote, there may be more residents who we call seasonal and might be voting who might not have a vested interest, or there may be residents who don't see the necessity.

More voting sites will be established to enable more people to vote.

I don't know if I completely understood what was in the school district referendum, but I now realize how important my vote is with my responsibility to become better educated on it.

Lastly, I plan to take an active role in understanding our Sussex County Council. After rereading the Cape Gazette coverage about the voluntary school assessment, I want to understand why no vote happened on this bill. 

Mary Beth Palkon-Krytzer
Milton
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