DELDOT's Route 113 Bypass Land Deals Require Investigation

The Delaware Department of Transportation's decision to pay two land developers $60,000 per month not to build should be cause of concern for the Delaware taxpayer.  It does not take a rocket scientist to know that the U.S. and Delaware are still reeling from a protracted recession, of which includes the housing market.  DELDOT's decision to reward two land developers in this market are akin to bailouts doled out by the U.S. Department of Treasury to large firms suchs as General Motors, Chrysler and all of the national money-center banks.

The premise of rewarding the two land developers was brought to Delawareans' attention today.  But a News Journal article alone will not address the premise of the why the two developers are being rewarded.  And that is why Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden and State Auditor Tom Wagner must investigate.

• Why were the two developers the only ones rewarded, of the 416 affected by the new bypass plans? 
• Is the planned bypass through Dagsboro the best alternative to problems on Route 113?
• What authority does DELDOT have to reward $60,000/month to two developers for something not to be built? (This is different that compensating homeowners affected by a road project on fair market value due to loss of property).

The State Auditor must also investigate DELDOT Secretary Carolyn Wicks' premise that the deals were responsible to the Delaware taxpayer.  Her own comment ""We are responsible with taxpayers' money," is simply not true.  Rewarding two developers to the tune of $60,000 each per month is not good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. 

Further investigation needs to be done to investigate Rte 113 alternatives as they fail to address the East-West congestion.  The congestion on Rte 113 is North-South, but the East-West congestion is due to traffic coming from Rte 113 where there are shopping opportunities east to the shore points.  The Bypass alternatives will not alleviate that traffic congestion as Rtes 24, 26, etc may be landlocked and may not be condusive to expansion.

Sussex County Urges Congress to Reconsider Fuel Tax Bill

Sussex County (Delaware) adopted a resolution urging Congress to rethink its plans to institute a tax bill.  Please see the press release below from Chip Guy, Chief of Public Information for Sussex County.

Sussex County urges Congress to reconsider fuel tax bill

Georgetown, Del., Nov. 30, 2010: Sussex County Council is urging Congressional leaders to back off a proposal that would increase the federal fuel tax, an idea that, if enacted, would mean more dollars out of the pockets of Sussex Countians and millions of Americans.

County Council, at its Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, meeting, adopted a resolution calling on Delaware’s Congressional Delegation to withdraw any support for the proposal to raise by 25 cents a gallon – or any other increased amount – the federal portion of the fuel tax to pay for infrastructure improvements, such as bridges and roads.

County leaders, at the behest of Council President Vance Phillips, said the timing of the proposal is poor, given record unemployment and the flagging national economy.

“People are hurting. They’ve lost jobs, they’re struggling to make ends meet. Businesses are hurting, too,” Council President Phillips said. “To ask the people to pick up one cent more of government spending is wrong, and for many Americans, it could break the bank.”

Council’s resolution is non-binding, but County leaders said they are hopeful their decision will send a message to Washington that actions there filter down to the local level and reach into the pockets of hard-working, everyday people.

County Administrator David Baker will forward a copy of the resolution to Sens. Thomas Carper and Chris Coons, as well as Congressman-elect John Carney.

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RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL’S CONCERN THAT A PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL FUEL TAX WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF SUSSEX COUNTY, DELAWARE, AND THE COUNTY’S OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH

WHEREAS, there is a proposal to increase by 25 cents the federal fuel tax, at a time when gasoline prices are nearing $3 a gallon; and

WHEREAS, a fuel tax increase of 25 cents a gallon would cost the average Sussex County household more than $700 annually; and

WHEREAS, a high number of Sussex County residents are already unemployed or unable to find full-time work, while the national unemployment rate is at the highest sustained rate since the Great Depression; and

WHEREAS, a gasoline tax is particularly burdensome to lower- and lower-middle income citizens in non-urban areas, where there are few public transportation options available; and

WHEREAS, the County’s agriculture industry is adversely affected by higher fuel prices in all aspects, from production to transportation of goods; and

WHEREAS, the County’s tourism industry relies heavily on regional visitors whose discretionary spending could be curtailed by a significant rise in fuel prices; and

WHEREAS, increases in fuel taxes are passed on to consumers, affecting the price of most goods and services, thereby affecting the overall health and stability of our economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sussex County Council hereby urges the Delaware Congressional Delegation to withdraw its support for any fuel tax increase; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Administrator shall send an official copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to each member of the Delaware Congressional Delegation for their consideration.