Sussex takes steps to ease financial burdens

Sussex County Council took action during an April 7 teleconference meeting in an effort to ease financial burdens caused by the COVID-19 health crisis.

The county will suspend the 3 percent accommodations tax adopted in November 2019 and implemented Jan. 1. The surcharge is charged on room rentals in a hotel, motel or tourist home in unincorporated areas of the county. Gina Jennings, county finance director, said the county collected $50,000 in taxes in January and February, the first two months of implementation.

County council agreed to release up to $250,000 in county funds to the Delaware State Housing Authority’s Housing Assistance Program, with money earmarked for renters in Sussex County. Under the program, eligible households can receive up to $1,500.

In addition, until further notice, collection of lease payments have been temporarily waived for tenants of the Delaware Coastal Airport and Delaware Coastal Business Park. Jennings sai payments would eventually be collected once the economy starts to recover.

“We are mindful these are very trying times, and anything the county can do to take some stress off our customers’ wallets is something we should strive for,” said Council President Mike Vincent of Seaford. “These are small but important steps that will do a tremendous amount of good.”

Rehoboth: Wait and see

The county may have taken this proactive measure, but Rehoboth Beach is taking a wait-and-see approach on its accommodations tax. After getting a charter change passed through the General Assembly last summer, commissioners unanimously approved the implementation of a 3 percent accommodations tax last fall. More recently, commissioners passed a budget March 20 with $800,000 of expected revenue from the tax.

On behalf of City Manager Sharon Lynn and Mayor Paul Kuhns, in an email April 7, city spokesperson Krys Johnson said it was too early to make any decisions until the city has a better handle on the future. Additionally, she said, most if not all of the accommodation facilities have closed until at least some time in May. 

“The budget has been in effect since April 1,” said Johnson. “Sharon is reviewing all purchase orders and expenses daily. Any budget related issues will be discussed at a future date.”

Update on Sussex operations

County Administrator Todd Lawson also provided council and the public with an update on county operations since the March 13 state of emergency was imposed by Gov. John Carney.

The administration building on The Circle in Georgetown is closed to the public except for a space in the lobby to drop off documents. Lawson said county staff have processed more than 1,500 documents related to construction and land-use projects since March 19.

Lawson said documents include residential and commercial building plans and permits; recorder of deeds paperwork; land-use site plans; and board of adjustment and administrative approval applications. In addition, he said, the recorder of deeds office has received more than 1,400 electronic filings during that time period.

He said the normal staff of 150 employees in the building has been reduced to fewer than 20 employees, mostly in the assessment, building code, deeds and planning and zoning offices.

The west complex off Route 113 in Georgetown has been closed to the public, and the only employees in the building are emergency medical services staff.

Lawson said as many in-person meetings as possible have been eliminated as county staff move to teleconference and video conference technology. County council, planning and zoning and board of adjustment meetings will continue for the time being, he said, using a teleconference format.

No positive tests – Lawson said there have been some scares regarding employee exposure to the virus. “All have not been direct contact, but rather second- or third-person removed contact. We have taken no chances and required the employees to self-quarantine,” he said.

None of the employees has tested positive for the virus, Lawson noted.

No shortage of equipment – Lawson said county staff who use personal protective equipment, including EMS and environmental services employees, are reporting no shortage of equipment.

He said the emergency services department recently was able to purchase more than 10,000 N95 masks expected to arrive by the end of April.

Creating Wi-Fi hot spots – County library and technology staff are working with the Delaware Division of Libraries to provide free Wi-Fi hot spots in the parking lots of every Sussex County library. The hotspots are expected to come online by the end of the week.

Help for homeless – Lawson said the county is participating in a program to provide services to the homeless during the crisis. The county will provide $500 monthly to support portable toilets and wash stations at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach, the ACE centers in Georgetown and Seaford and Seaford City Hall, hand-washing only.

Information on website – In addition to its social media platform, the county has a website updated daily providing COVID-19 information at sussexcountyde.gov/coronavirus. All federal and state recovery information for businesses is available at excitesussex.com.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated April 8 to include comments from Rehoboth Beach officials about the city’s accommodations tax.