HB 260 Summary

• Raises the competitive bidding threshold for city contracts from $25,000 to $50,000 and adds exceptions for state/county competitively bid contracts and cooperative purchasing agreements.

• Authorizes the city to borrow money and issue bonds for the purchase of real estate in addition to existing purposes.

• Permits the City Council to either appoint a qualified assessor or use Sussex County property assessments instead of maintaining a city assessor, with modified appeal procedures for each option.

• Increases the cap on municipal tax collection from $3.5 million to the greater of either 0.5% of total assessed property value or $5 million.

• Modifies sidewalk, curb, and gutter improvement procedures by requiring at least two weeks' notice to affected property owners prior to work and clarifying cost assessment methodology.