Official Summary Text
This House Amendment to Senate Substitute No. 1 to Senate Bill No. 228 clarifies that the quality control review parameters articulated in Senate Substitute No. 1 to Senate Bill No. 228 are not limitations on the power of New Castle County to otherwise make revisions and corrections to property assessments in the county and that New Castle County may conduct additional quality control review where it appears that an error or mistake in valuation may have occurred.
It clarifies that when school districts set their tax rate or rates in October 2026, the boards should set rate or rates so that overall projected revenue does not increase as a result of any corrections made as part of the quality control review described in this bill, or any other corrections to assessed value.
The amendment also adds a whereas clause that references the existing “fair market value” standard for valuation contained in the Delaware Code.
Current Bill Text
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Legislation Document
SPONSOR:
Rep. Romer
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 228
AMEND Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 228 by inserting the following after line 38 and before line 39:
“WHEREAS, under current law, all property subject to assessment must be assessed at its fair market value as of the county’s most recent reassessment base year, and the County bears responsibility for ensuring assessed values reflect that standard; and”.
FURTHER AMEND Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 228 by inserting the following after line 81 and before line 82 and redesignating accordingly:
"
(i) This section is not a limitation on the power of New Castle County to perform quality control and make revisions and corrections relating to the assessed value of any tax parcel or parcels in its jurisdiction. In addition to the categories set forth in subsection (a) of this section, New Castle County may identify additional categories of tax parcels for quality control review where it appears that an error or mistake in valuation may have occurred.
".
FURTHER AMEND Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 228 on line 87 by inserting “
(1)
” after “
(e)
” as it appears therein.
FURTHER AMEND Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 228 by inserting the following after line 91 and before line 92:
“
(2) A school board setting its tax rate under paragraph (e)(1) of this section must set the rate or rates so that the school district will not realize an overall increase in projected revenue over the prior year due solely to corrections or adjustments in assessment of existing parcels on the New Castle County tax roll.
”.
SYNOPSIS
This House Amendment to Senate Substitute No. 1 to Senate Bill No. 228 clarifies that the quality control review parameters articulated in Senate Substitute No. 1 to Senate Bill No. 228 are not limitations on the power of New Castle County to otherwise make revisions and corrections to property assessments in the county and that New Castle County may conduct additional quality control review where it appears that an error or mistake in valuation may have occurred.
It clarifies that when school districts set their tax rate or rates in October 2026, the boards should set rate or rates so that overall projected revenue does not increase as a result of any corrections made as part of the quality control review described in this bill, or any other corrections to assessed value.
The amendment also adds a whereas clause that references the existing “fair market value” standard for valuation contained in the Delaware Code.