UPDATED: Sussex County Council gets Update on 2025 Tax Bills & Bids Farewell to Economic Development Director Bill Pfaff

UPDATED – 07/29/25 – The Sussex County Council heard a presentation from Philip Barnes the the University of Delaware IPA (Institute for Public Administration). Barnes discussed legislation approved by the Delaware General Assembly during the 152nd General Assembly, SB 237, that changes requirements regarding climate change and resiliency related to Comprehensive Planning for each county and municipal comprehensive plans for municipalities with populations greater than 2000 – to require their comp plans increase community resiliency and address the impacts of climate change. To date – no guidelines have been developed, however Barnes is looking for feedback from the County to take back to the State Planners and DNREC – this Act will not take effect until November 15, 2026. 

Image courtesy Sussex County Government

The Sussex County Council recognized County Economic Development Director Bill Pfaff who is retiring at the end of the month. He was presented with a Tribute and plaque for is just over 8 years of service to Sussex County. County Administrator Todd Lawson also told the Council that Andrew Harton, who has been with the County since February as the economic development manager and worked directly with Bill Pfaff, has been promoted to Director of the County’s Economic Development office – effective Friday.   

Harton comes to the County from the Delaware Division of Small Business, where he served as the Business Finance Director. There, he helped administer many State-level economic development initiatives, including the Encouraging Development, Growth & Expansion (EDGE) program and the Delaware Site Readiness program. Mr. Lawson said that Mr. Harton’s understanding of Delaware’s economic development ecosystem, as well as his experience in the small business world, will be an asset in helping to promote Sussex County and attract new commerce to the region.

The Sussex County Council approved two appointees to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals – this board heard appeals on building code and housing code issues and is different from the County Board of Adjustment. This board only meets a few times a year as needed. The Council approved Jose Santos from District 1 and Eric Evans from District 5 to 4 year terms on the Board of Adjustments and Appeals – effective immediately.  They replace Keith Lecates and Daniel Betts on the Board. 

The Council approved an issuance of bonds to finance projects for TidalHealth Nanticoke, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. TidalHealth Nanticoke, Inc. is looking to issue $140,000,000 of tax-exempt bond, of which $85,000,000 will be allocated to be used in Sussex County. For these bonds to qualify as federally tax-exempt, the organization issuing the bonds must hold a public hearing in the county where the services are provide to satisfy the Internal Revenue Code. A representative from TidalHealth told the Council that the Sussex County portion of the funding will be used to facilitate the construction of the new TidalHealth North Millsboro facility that will be built on Route 113 north of Millsboro. There was no comment during the public hearing and the Council approved the bond issuance with a unanimous vote.

Images courtesy Sussex County Government

County Finance Director Gina Jennings gave the Council an overview of the 2025 Tax Billing and how bills will be affected by the reassessment that was completed in the spring. Jennings says that reassessment will not delay the release of the county tax bills – they will be in the mail at the same time as every year – and arriving in your mail box in early August. The county’s portion of the tax was done to be revenue neutral, so that there would be little change in your tax – just the tax rate, which is much lower. Jennings says that before school taxes are included, about 44% of County residential properties will see a decrease in their tax bill. For most – it will depend on the school districts. Only Cape Henlopen remained revenue neutral. The other districts in Sussex County opted for at least some of the allowed increase of 10% that was permitted through the reassessment legislation. Jennings says the tax calculator has been updated to work with your reassessed property value and your school district to give a closer idea of your taxes. That calculator will be replaced after about a week with an actual calculator that will show the impact of your taxes on individual property.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SUSSEX COUNTY TAX CALCULATOR

During the afternoon session, the Council heard two conditional use applications. CU No 2578 for New Life Bible Fellowship Church was for a new on-premise electronic message center sign which was approved by the Council with a 5 to 0 vote.
CU No. 2584 was for an outdoor athletic field and concession trailer/food truck. The Council has deferred this vote until a later date.

The Sussex County Council does not meet next week. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 12 in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.

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ORIGINAL STORY – 07/28/25 – The Sussex County Council will meet on Tuesday – but the meeting will begin at 12:30pm. The Council will hear a presentation from Philip Barnes from the University of Delaware Institute for Public Administration. There will be an early public hearing on a resolution approving the issuance of bonds to finance projects for TidalHealth Nanticoke, Inc. and certain of its affiliates in Sussex County. Finance Director Gina Jennings will update the Council on the 2025 Tax Billing.

There will be two public hearings in the afternoon session on Conditional Use applications. One is for the New Life Bible Fellowship Church looking to install on on-premise electronic message center sign at Cannon and Indian Mission Roads in Millsboro. The other is for an outdoor athletic field and concession trailer/food truck on Camp Road near Bridgeville.

The Council will meet at 12:30pm in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL PACKET