6/19/2007
Spring 2007 District Survey Results On Important Issues Facing The General Assembly

Contact:          Stephanie Mantegna, House of Representatives, 302-577-8515                       stephanie.mantegna@state.de.us

BRANDYWINE HUNDRED STATE LAWMAKER RELEASES DISTRICT SURVEY RESULTS ON IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

            State Representative Gregory F. Lavelle (R-Sharpley) has announced the results from his Spring 2007 District Survey where 11th District residents shared their opinions on topics including proposed tax increases, the impending Yard Waste Ban and the expansion of gaming in Delaware.

 In response to a proposed property tax increase that would go toward funding capital infrastructure needs at Delaware Technical and Community College, almost 80% said they are opposed to the proposal.   Almost three-quarters of the respondents were against raising the gas tax to address a $1.5 billion budget shortfall in the Delaware Department of Transportation, yet those who participated were overwhelmingly in favor of increasing the vehicle registration fee. The responses to the Governor’s proposed tax and fee increases are as follows:  

• 73% oppose increasing the gas tax from 23¢ to 28¢ a gallon
• 59% oppose raising the vehicle documentation fee
• 76% approve increasing the vehicle registration fee from $20 to $30
• 55% are in favor of eliminating the E-ZPass discounts on I-95 and Route 1
• 53% approve increasing all Delaware Route 1 tolls
• 89% are in favor of continuing to refine DelDOT's budgeting and planning process and return operating expenses from the Transportation Trust Fund to the General Fund. 

Nearly 60% said they are against New Castle County’s plan to raise revenue by, in addition to raising property taxes, establishing a hotel tax and increasing cell phone fees to fund 9-1-1 services in general.   

In response to the Yard Waste Ban, nearly three-quarters of the respondents are in favor of repealing the ban.  (The ban has been delayed until January 15, 2008.)  When asked if they would support suspending the Yard Waste Ban to develop a comprehensive, less confusing curbside recycling program that has minimal costs to homeowners, participants overwhelmingly said they would be in favor of such a proposal. 

In the event that revenue projections were to exceed the proposed budget in the future, more than 70% of the participants said they would support saving the funds for future revenue losses.    

Those who responded were split almost evenly on whether they would support the expansion of slot machines to the Wilmington Riverfront as a way to better compete with Pennsylvania, where slot machine gambling is now permitted. 

Nearly three-quarters of the participants are in favor of eliminating some minimum mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug convictions and allowing judges flexibility in those sentencings. 

Concerning a Constitutional Amendment that would allow registered voters to initiate a recall, for any purpose, of any elected official in the State of Delaware, more than half said they are in favor of such a proposal.            

More than 70% said they would be in favor of establishing an Office of State Ombudsman to resolve state employee-related complaints and grievances early in the process.  The goal of the Ombudsman would be to avoid unnecessary confrontation, extended hearing procedures or litigation. 

A complete copy of the survey results is available in Adobe PDF format by clicking here.

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