The Colonial School District held its June 2025 School Board Meeting on June 11, focusing on critical financial discussions, particularly regarding the New Castle County tax pool and its implications for the district's revenue.

The meeting began with an overview of the tax pool's current status. It was noted that the tax pool's rate is established based on historical data from when the districts were separated, which has led to complications given the significant increases in property values—reportedly up to 400%. The lack of a mechanism to adjust the tax pool rate in response to these changes has raised concerns among board members.

A key point of discussion was the potential legislative action regarding the tax pool. The board expressed hope for clarity on how to manage the tax pool moving forward, with a draft date for legislative action set for June 30. There is speculation that a bill may be introduced to dissolve the tax pool entirely, which would allow each district to operate independently regarding their tax rates and revenues.

If the tax pool were to be dissolved, the Colonial School District would retain full control over its taxing authority. This change would mean that the district's tax base and rate would be directly tied to its revenue, eliminating the shared revenue arrangement currently in place. However, it was emphasized that the tax pool only constitutes about 20-30% of the district's overall operating revenue, suggesting that while significant, its dissolution would not drastically alter the district's financial landscape.

The meeting also touched on the projected tax base for the fiscal year 2025, which was reported at approximately $3.16 billion, reflecting a substantial increase from previous years. However, this figure is subject to adjustments due to appeals and exemptions, indicating that the final revenue may be lower than anticipated.

Board members encouraged taxpayers to utilize the county's website to assess their property values against the projected increases, emphasizing the importance of understanding how these changes would affect individual tax bills. The discussion concluded with a recognition that the tax rate would need to be recalibrated in light of the new property values, which would not maintain the previous rate of 10 cents.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the complexities surrounding the tax pool and its impact on the Colonial School District's financial future, with board members advocating for legislative solutions to address these challenges.