New Castle County schools may reset taxes within revenue limits

School boards may reset their tax rates using New Castle County’s latest list of assessed property values. The authority covers school districts within New Castle County. Projected revenue for school operations cannot exceed the prior year’s amount except for voter-approved increases not yet received and each district’s five-year average growth rate in taxable property. School boards must send their 2026–2027 tax collection instructions to county tax officials by October 22, 2026. The law expires March 31, 2027, unless a later law provides otherwise.

The state must provide a requested advance from State Division I funds, a state funding source. This provision covers school districts within New Castle County. The district must have a shortage of local school funds caused by these tax-rate rules and must request the advance. The advance provision applies to shortages for the 2026–2027 school tax year. The law expires March 31, 2027, unless a later law provides otherwise.