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Appoquinimink board sets tax warrant after heated public criticism over $4.9M shortfall
Summary
After weeks of updated reassessment data and public outcry over a nearly $5 million budget shortfall, the Appoquinimink School District board adopted a tax warrant that raises the operating rate to 35.41¢ per $100 assessed value, plus set debt, match and tuition tax components.
Appoquinimink School District trustees voted July 8 to set the district's tax warrant, adopting a general operating tax rate of $0.3541 per $100 of assessed value (35.41¢) after a lengthy presentation and public comment. The board also approved a 7.5¢ debt service tax, a 3.41¢ match tax and a 17.43¢ tuition tax.
Finance staff said the vote was driven by three budget pressures: an estimated $1 million in higher utility costs across 24 buildings, a rising special‑education population and underestimated stipend/RISE program costs of about $2.8 million, plus an accounting projection error that left the district with significantly less carryover than earlier reported. Scott Kessel, assisting during the CFO transition, told the board the district received updated assessed values from New Castle County on July 7, the first full reassessment since 1983, and used standard assumptions including a 2% delinquency allowance and an at‑risk appeals figure reported as $245 million.
Kessel said the district's recommended operating rate (the reassessment…
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