Legislature passes $1.4 billion bond bill

The Delaware General Assembly passed a $1.4 billion capital budget June 29 – the largest infrastructure improvement and jobs creation act in Delaware history, officials say.

The bill now goes to Gov. John Carney for his signature. 

The fiscal year 2023 capital budget allocates money for roadway enhancements, school construction, courthouse expansion, state building renovations, library upgrades, state park improvements and clean water investments across the First State. 

House Bill 475 is the product of multiple hearings held by the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, a 12-member panel of senators and representatives from both parties charged with drafting the state’s capital spending plan.  

Commonly referred to as the bond bill, the capital spending plan for FY 2023 exceeds last year’s record-setting capital budget passed by the General Assembly. 

The FY 2023 Capital Budget includes: 

• $331.4 million in state transportation allocations to complete road projects statewide, including additional funds to address the roads in poorest condition
• $285.2 million for school construction projects in the Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Capital, Christina, Colonial, Indian River, Milford and Smyrna school districts, as well as funding for all three technical school districts: Polytech, New Castle County Vo-Tech, and Sussex Tech
• $90 million in community reinvestment and redevelopment to help community nonprofits and municipal organizations fund critical infrastructure upgrades 
• $80 million to the new Kent and Sussex Family Courthouses for the second year of funding
• $40 million for the preservation of farmland and open spaces
• $38.5 million for the new Troop 6 in Wilmington
• $37 million for clean drinking water, drainage improvement and beach restoration projects
• $30.4 million in statewide deferred maintenance, roof replacement, and capital improvement projects throughout state facilities
• $30 million in minor capital improvement funding to address the backlog of maintenance projects throughout every district in the state
• $26.8 million for statewide library construction
• $25.3 million dedicated to statewide park improvements including a White Clay Creek Nature Center, a splash pad at Trap Pond State Park, renovations to the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park and cabins at Lums Pond State Park
• $24.5 million for Wilmington-area projects including the Riverfront Development Corporation, South Market Street improvements, Frawley Stadium, a Riverside STEM Hub, and Fort Christina improvements
• $10 million for the School Safety and Security Fund.