DOVER – The Delaware General Assembly on Wednesday sent the largest infrastructure-improvement and jobs creation act in Delaware history to Governor John Carney for his signature.
The Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Budget allocates $1.4 billion toward roadway enhancements, school construction, courthouse expansion, state building renovations, library upgrades, state park improvements and clean water investments across the First State.
“For the second year in a row, we are making a record-breaking investment in Delaware’s infrastructure, Delaware’s job market and Delaware’s future,” said Sen. Nicole Poore, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Capital Improvements.
“Every single project funded through the Capital Budget will help create good-paying jobs that will put Delawareans back work building new schools, new libraries and upgrading our world-class parks, while also providing clean drinking water, preserving farmland and open space, and supporting the towns and non-profits who provide the services our most vulnerable neighbors depend on,” she said. “I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for passing this year’s Capital Improvement Plan and I look forward to House Bill 475 being signed by Governor Carney soon.”
House Bill 475 is the product of multiple hearings held by the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, a 12-member panel of Senators and Representatives from both parties charged with drafting the state’s capital spending plan.
“Delaware has been fortunate to have strong revenues in recent years, and we have been smart to invest those funds in various projects throughout the state, rebuilding our infrastructure, making our schools safer, improving our state parks, preserving open space and farmland, and addressing drainage, beach and dredging needs in our state,” said Rep. Debra Heffernan, who chairs the Joint Bond Bill Committee. “These projects and others will ensure students attend new and upgraded schools, that our roads are easier to travel, and that our environment is protected. I’m looking forward to seeing the Bond Bill signed into law, funding these projects, putting people to work and making our state a better place to live.”
Commonly referred to as “the Bond Bill,” the capital spending plan for FY 2023 exceeds the previous high-water mark for infrastructure investment in Delaware set by the FY 2022 Capital Budget passed by the General Assembly in 2021.
Notable items in the FY 2023 Capital Budget include:
- $331.4 million in state transportation allocations to complete road projects statewide, including additional funds to address the roads in poorest condition.
- $285.2 million for school construction projects in the Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Capital, Christina, Colonial, Indian River, Milford, and Smyrna school districts, as well as funding for all three technical school districts Polytech, New Castle County Vo-Tech, and Sussex Tech school districts.
- $90 million in community reinvestment and redevelopment to help community nonprofits and municipal organizations fund critical infrastructure upgrades
- $80 million to the new Kent and Sussex Family Courthouses for the second year of funding.
- $40 million for the preservation of farmland and open spaces.
- $38.5 million for the new Troop 6 in Wilmington.
- $37 million for clean drinking water, drainage improvement and beach restoration projects.
- $30.4 million in statewide deferred maintenance, roof replacement, and capital improvement projects throughout state facilities.
- $30 million in minor capital improvement funding to address the backlog of maintenance projects throughout every district in the state
- $26.8 million for statewide library construction.
- $25.3 million dedicated to statewide park improvements including a White Clay Creek Nature Center, a splash pad at Trap Pond State Park, renovations to the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park and cabins at Lums Pond State Park.
- $24.5 million for Wilmington area projects including the Riverfront Development Corporation, South Market Street Improvements, Frawley Stadium, a Riverside STEM Hub, and Fort Christina improvements.
- $10 million for the School Safety and Security Fund.
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