Governor John Carney on Tuesday released the following statement on two budget bills House Bill 195 and House Bill 196, which passed in the Delaware State House and Senate.
“Delawareans expect us to pass a responsible, sustainable budget that protects taxpayer money and makes our state more competitive. This budget does exactly that. We are raising salaries for teachers, getting more resources in our highest-needs classrooms, investing in affordable housing, and continuing to save for more difficult years. I want to thank members of the General Assembly and the Joint Finance Committee – especially the committee chairs, Representative Carson and Senator Paradee – for their hard work and partnership,” Carney stated.
The Fiscal 2024 budget is $5.6 million up about 10% from a year earlier and includes a 9% pay increase for teachers and higher than usual raises for lower paid state employees.
Delaware currently has a healthy budget surplus However, projections indicate that the state faces a bumpy road ahead when it comes to projected tax revenues.
The budget passed by a lopsided margin in both houses.
The Joint Finance Committee, which has representatives from both political parties, hammers out the budget proposed by the Carney Administration. The committee added more than $100 million in spending.
Spending demands have grown, with an increasing number of progressive Democrats proposing programs to address social inequities.
Democrats dominate both Houses, with Republicans having little power to demand changes in the budget.
