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Committee debates one-year partial county tax exemption for low-income homeowners; many members raise fairness and fiscal concerns
Summary
Ordinance 25-047 would create a one-year, income-qualified partial county property tax exemption (income cap $50,000) after reassessment; committee debate was lengthy and no final vote is recorded in the transcript.
New Castle County’s Administrative Finance Committee spent an extended portion of its May 13 meeting debating Ordinance 25-047, which would authorize a one-year, partial county property tax exemption targeted to low-income homeowners following the county’s reassessment.
The ordinance would create a means-tested, one-year county property tax exemption for qualifying owners (income $50,000 or less as stated in the discussion). The county fiscal note presented to the committee estimates a potential maximum of 7,514 eligible parcels and a maximum tax discount of $276 per eligible residential parcel; the administration estimated reduced county revenue of about $1.3 million and said any impact would be reflected in the rollback-tax-rate calculation for fiscal year 2026.
Council members raised multiple concerns. Several members — including Councilmen Smiley, Hollins, Carter and Councilwoman Kilpatrick — argued the…
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