General Assembly Returns:
The General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday, March 11th and will be in session until Thursday, March 20th. They will take an Easter break and return on April 8th.
Eminent Domain Update:
DAR met with Mayor Baker and other representatives from the City of Wilmington and the Wilmington Redevelopment Authority to discuss DAR's proposed legislation. The City will be reviewing the draft and provide their comments within the next two weeks. DAR will meet with the League of Local Governments to brief them on the bill on March 18th.
DAR sent a letter to the House Transportation, Land Use and Infrastructure Committee asking for SB 194 and HB 289 to be tabled until we have been afforded the opportunity to try to reach consensus with other interested parties. The House hearing to consider the bills was subsequently cancelled.
Realty Transfer Tax Update:
DAR issued an
ACTION ALERT asking its members to contact members of the General Assembly to oppose an increase in the Realty Transfer Tax. HB 293 which raises the tax by .28 percent to fund a capital construction fund for the Delaware and Technical Community College is pending in the House Education Committee. In addition Governor Minner and the Department of Finance, Office of Management and Budget and the Controller General's Office recently released the General Fund Revenue Report which outlines current revenue and examines potential revenue sources that policy makers may want to consider.
The report states that "Despite its position among the highest realty transfer tax rates in the nation, in terms of revenue raising potential, increasing Delaware's RTT could be used to address an immediate budget shortfall." The report states that the cyclical nature of the tax would carry a larger confidence interval than other options.
DAR is very concerned that this will be added in epilogue language at the end of session...we must let our voices be heard and continue to actively oppose an increase in the realty transfer tax. Click to see Action Alert.
Overlay Zones:
HB 302, which clarifies that local government can use overlay zones, has been scheduled for a hearing in the Transportation, Land Use and Infrastructure Committee next Wednesday. DAR has concerns about the need for the legislation and lack of notification provisions and is working with other interested organizations on the issue.
Manufactured Housing:
Both sides appear to be in agreement over a Notice of Intent to Sell proposal, which includes a provision that will exempt
tenants purchasing a manufactured home community from the realty transfer tax. Another meeting to work out the final details is scheduled for Monday, March 17th.
DAR Met with Commissioner Denn:
DAR had a very productive meeting with Matt Denn to discuss our concerns in the insurance arena including: companies terminating insurance based on claims or questions, available homeowner coverage in coastal areas, more disclosure that FAIR plans are available and legislation to address the use of credit scores as the sole criteria for acceptance, denial, renewal or rating of insured for underwriting purposes. We also discussed the importance of health insurance availability for independent contractors and small businesses.
Homeowner Insurance Cancellations Update:
The Senate passes S. 191, which would prevent insurance companies from terminating homeowner policies in response to claims or policy questions. It will be referred to the House Committee on Economic Development, Banking and Insurance for consideration.
Pollution Control Strategy for the Inland Bays (PCS):
Secretary Hughes recently expressed an interest in moving on PCS. The goal of the strategy is to reduce nutrient loading in order to achieve State Water Quality Standards for dissolved oxygen and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and protect designated uses of the waters of the Inland Bays. The regulations address point sources, non-point sources including agriculture, urban/residential development, on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems and stormwater. DAR is part of a Coalition working to ensure that new regulations or requirements are based on solid scientific evidence and on a careful analysis of cost vs. benefit.
COMP Plan Updates:
Both Kent and Sussex Counties continue to move forward on updates to their Comprehensive Plans and have a series of public meetings scheduled. For more information visit
www.sussexcountyde.gov or
www.co.kent.de.us.
DAR Breakfast with Senator Carper:
On Monday, April 7 at 8:30 a.m. DAR will host a breakfast discussion with Senator Carper at the DAR office in Dover. For more information, please contact Charlotte Herbert at (302) 734-4444, ext. 12 or
charlotte@delawarerealtor.com.
House Housing and Community Affairs Hearing on Foreclosures:
DAR attended a roundtable discussion with Chairman Short and members of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee and other interested organizations to discuss the Delaware State Housing Authority's 2009 budget request and foreclosures. DSHA is proposing a $12 increase in the Recorder of Deeds fee for every recordation. There was also discussion regarding ways to increase funding for new construction for low and moderate income persons. DAR asked to be included in additional meetings which will be held over the Easter recess.
Citizens Source Water Protection Committee to Meet:
The Source Water Protection Citizens and Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) of the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program will meet from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, March 26 in Conference Room 220 A&B of the Kent County Administrative Offices on Bay Road in Dover. The agenda includes: a discussion on Source Water Protection Ordinance development with representatives from Kent, New Castle, and Sussex counties and the cities of Dover, New Castle, and Seaford; an update by the Delaware Geological Survey on the Sussex County Ground-Water Availability Study that is currently in progress; and a presentation from U.S. EPA Region III on the Source Water Collaborative. For more information about the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program, including a full agenda for this meeting, please visit
www.wr.udel.edu/swaphome/meetings.html, or contact Program Manager John Barndt at (302) 739-9945.
Creating a Livable Delaware Conference:
The conference, Pathways for Enhancing Prosperity and Quality of Life, will be held on March 25th beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the University of Delaware, Clayton Hall. The conference will be simulcast at the Carvel Research and Education Center, in Georgetown. For more information visit
www.udel.edu/partnerships or call (302) 831-8855.
2008 JUMP IN THE OCEAN A GREAT SUCCESS:
DAR raised over $20,000 at the event. A very special thank you to those who attended and to Cheryl Myers from AmeriSpec Home Inspections, the event sponsor!
| |
President-Elect Lauren Alberti, Moe Veissi NAR's RPAC Fundraising Chair and Elizabeth Blakeslee NAR's 2008 Region 3 Vice President |
|
Jumper Phil McGinnis, NAR Director and DAR Board member and Moe Veissi |
|
| |
Moe Veissi and John W. Ford, Chair of the DelPAC Trustees and NCCBOR Public Policy Committee |
|
Jumper Todd Stonesifer, DAR Director Judy Dean, Past President Camilla Conlon, John W. Ford, Jumper Dick Brogan, Lynde Brogan and Eric Braunstein |
|
