Sports
Fun
Biz
Bowen chasing dreams with Phillies
Max’s Last Journey quite a ride
Wingate leading new edition of Miller’s Creek
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Page B1
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MARCH 20, 2026
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 23, Issue 12
FREE
Independent libraries request tax increase By Laura Walter Staff Reporter Someone walking into a library might find children at storytime, teens playing games, jobseekers online, local musicians singing, a table of tax advice, a food pantry, print/fax services — and, sure, books. “Libraries bring value to a town and community,” said Kelly Kline, director of Selbyville Public Library.
“People like to live near a library — especially if they have kids, and the older people too… They’re a nice place to make connections.” Yet most local libraries are not fully government-funded. In fact, the 11 independent libraries of Sussex County must fundraise between 13 and 52 percent of their operating budgets each year, and, this year, they need a combined $2.5 million to continue operating as usual.
To keep libraries open and let the staff focus on operations instead of chasing donations, advocates are asking the Sussex County Council to increase the official library-tax rate, which is split between the independent libraries each year. If doubled, the tax rate would still be less than 0.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value — a relatively low amount on the average tax bill. It would work out to less than $20 for a
home valued at $400,000, compared to the current annual tax of $9.20 for that home. Elected officials rarely want to raise taxes without a clear need. That’s why independent libraries are asking the community to tell the Sussex County Council that they support this tax proposal. See LIBRARIES page A3
No tax increase in South Bethany By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter South Bethany residents won’t have a tax increase this year, as the rate remains at $0.51 per $100 of assessed value, South Bethany Town Councilman and Treasurer Randy Bartholomew told the council as he presented the proposed 2027-fiscal-year budget at their Friday, March 13, meeting. He said he and the Budget & Finance Committee had reviewed the proposed budget, then it was discussed at a council workshop. Another workshop is planned for Friday, March 27, and the council could approve it at their Friday, April 10, meeting. The total revenue in the proposed budget is $3.5 million — a 1 percent, or $35,400, increase since last year. From a revenue point-of-view, there are four drivers, he said: property taxes, which would bring an estimated $850,000 into the Town; realty transfer tax, paid when
Special to the Coastal Point • Marian Dowling
A pair of osprey get, literally, a bird’s eye view from the Bethany Beach Nature Center. See BUDGET page A4
Ocean View will ‘absolutely not’ have a tax hike Proposed budget tags $3.9M in improvements By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Ocean View’s property tax rate will
remain at $0.2578 per $100 of assessed property value, with no increase this year. “No. Absolutely not,” Town Manager Carol Houck told a woman who asked about the tax rate during the Public Comments portion of the March 10 town council meeting, clarifying that
there was a separate discussion related to the Town talking to consultants about the possibility of borrowing $6.7 million for improvements to its infrastructure. The proposed 2027-fiscal-year budget includes a $7 million operating budget and $3.9 million capital im-
provement program.
Council opposes non-secular holiday displays The town council on March 10 also See OCEAN VIEW page A6