DE SCR122

Delaware completed its first comprehensive property reassessment in over 40 years, resulting from a 2018 ACLU/NAACP settlement agreement that challenged school funding constitutionality based on outdated property valuations

Many property owners, especially in New Castle County, experienced sharp tax increases exceeding 400%, with residential properties gaining significantly more value than commercial properties, shifting tax burden from corporations to working families

A 1972 state law allowed school districts to raise property tax revenues up to 10% post-reassessment without a referendum, and some districts utilized increases between 1% and 10%

The General Assembly commits to legislative action including reviewing reassessment methodologies, evaluating best practices from other jurisdictions, considering graduated tax brackets, and exploring targeted senior support measures

House Bill 62 (2023) now requires counties to conduct property reassessments at least every five years, and a special session on August 12, 2025 is planned for immediate legislative response