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Lobbyist briefs council on state budget, bond requests and pending bills affecting Newark
Summary
City lobbyist James Deshane updated council on the state revenue forecast, bond funding prospects for city projects, and the status of several bills including ADU legislation, a UD tax bill and proposals on executive session recording and school board residency requirements.
James Deshane, the city’s lobbyist with Gluehand Strategies, gave the Newark City Council a state-level legislative and budget update Monday, covering revenue forecasts, bond-bill prospects and several pending bills that affect city operations.
Deshane said the Delaware Financial Advisory Council released revised revenue and expense forecasts that will inform the General Assembly’s final budget. “The overall amount they have to spend is just over $7,000,000,000,” Deshane said; he reported that Joint Finance Committee workpapers then showed a narrower figure for consideration and that the hospital cost-control board may be added back into appropriations. Deshane said the state has an expected bond pool “somewhere between...$400,000,000 and something less” this year and that Newark has submitted requests for two bond projects; he is continuing to liaise with area legislators about bond-bill support.
On legislation, Deshane said an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bill remains on the Senate ready list but has not yet been called for a vote. He said a bill that would require public bodies to record executive sessions is also on a ready list in the House. He briefed council on House Bill 34 — the University of Delaware tax bill — saying staff expect the governor to sign within the next month and that council staff is preparing municipal ordinance timing to align with UD’s fall billing if the governor signs.
Deshane also reported on safety-related legislative follow-up requested by council: Representative Romer is directing staff to craft legislative language on evasion of police actions and other safety measures to be ready for consideration in the January session.
Councilmembers asked a range of follow-up questions about bond funding, whether Newark can expect the Higher Education Public Safety Fund allocations that have supported campus policing, and the status of the ADU and school board residency bills. Deshane said he would follow up with representatives and return with more specifics.
The presentation did not produce council action; Deshane told members he will continue to monitor the bills and bond process and will report back to council as more budget and bill details firm up.
