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MARCH 15, 2024
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Ocean View not raising taxes By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter The Ocean View Town Council, at its Tuesday, March 12, meeting, introduced an ordinance to establish the FY25 budget. It must be passed by April 30. Proposed is a $5.9 million operating budget and $1.9 million capital program. The current tax rate is .2378 per $100 of assessed property value. Town Manager Carol Houck did not attend the council meeting, but at the Feb. 27 budget workshop, she said the budget does not include a property tax increase this year but there will likely be a hike next year. “I anticipate a one-cent increase through FY29 and I don’t foresee our ability to not increase the tax rate in FY26. We have maintained the tax rate for the third year in a row and getting to the current rate included a three-cent reduction three years ago. We’re proud of that and all we have been able to accomplish,” she said. See OCEAN VIEW page 6
South Bethany officials avoid tax hike By Mike Smith Staff Reporter The South Bethany Town Council voted to hold the line on tax increases this year and close a budget shortfall of some $25,000 by using investment gains from its sizeable reserves and managed funds. There will be no tax increase this year, even as major capital projects, including raising the height of York Road, at a potential cost of $2 million, loom very large for the local government. The council voted to draw down investment proceeds from its reserve funds to close a small budget gap. Mayor Tim Saxton said, “The budget is still not balanced.” “Everything we talked about last See BUDGET page 5
Volume 21, Issue 11
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Shining star Hughes recognized as state’s Small Business Person of the Year By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter On Monday afternoon, Lord’s Landscaping in Millville was busy with the usual pre-spring stuff — customers perusing birding supplies, picking up bags of mulch and the like. Amid all of that, however, there was something more than the excitement of spring in the building as customers stopped by to congratulate owner Amy Hughes on being named Delaware’s Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Hughes received word of the award by email last week, she said. In the email, SBA District Director Michelle Harris congratulated her and said the SBA’s Small Business Week Awards are “the most prestigious awards recognizing the many achievements of America’s small business owners and advocates.” This week, Millville Mayor Ronald Belinko said “it doesn’t surprise me,” when he learned of Hughes’ award. “It’s always fantastic news when someone within your town limits, like Lord’s, is named (Small) Business Coastal Point • Kerin Magill Person of the Year,” he said. Amy Hughes of Lord’s Landscaping was recently recognized as Delaware’s Small “It’s just an example of how our Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Route 26 is growing and will continue to grow, and our residents can take advantage of it,” Belinko she experienced. S.C.O.R.E consultant Leonard Kidwell became an invaluable mentor to her, she said. said. He called Hughes “an example of a positive leader in Gov. John Carney will be making a visit to Lord’s later in our community. Not just a business leader, but a very posithe year, and there will be visits by the Delaware S.B.A. to tive leader in the town of Millville” as a whole, he said. develop promotions for the organization. Since she found During Small Business Week beginning April 28, out about the award late last week, “all these people have Hughes will attend events in Washington, D.C., representbeen calling. It’s been really cool,” she said. ing Delaware and joining other winners for workshops and In advance of the announcement, Hughes had submitted an awards luncheon. Although the award came as a surprise, Hughes said rep- preliminary paperwork to the S.B.A. including background resentatives from the SBA as well as U.S. Rep. Tom Carper’s on the company. “They were very interested in COVID, and how we pivoted,” during the pandemic, she said. While that office and the business mentoring program S.C.O.R.E. period presented a challenge, Hughes said she is proud of Delaware came and “did a walk-through of the property” how her company responded. last fall. Hughes said she had been encouraged by other local business owners to get involved with S.C.O.R.E. Delaware and is thankful for that advice, as well as for the mentorship See HUGHES page 3