Mike Smith, Representative for Delaware House District 22, has alleged that Governor Matt Meyer delayed the release of New Castle County property reassessment data until after the 2024 election. Smith made this statement on Facebook.
“Due to the lawsuit that will be heard on October 20th, it doesn’t look like many of our questions will be answered today,” said Smith, according to Facebook. “The County Executive (and our current Governor) said to not release the data and assessments until mid-November 2024. What makes mid November 2024 so special? The election would be over. Our Governor decided to hurt the very people he was asking to vote for him.”
According to Spotlight Delaware, New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry testified that Governor Meyer directed the delay of property reassessment data release until after the November 2024 election. The contractor responsible for the reassessment, Tyler Technologies, had recommended a summer 2024 release. This would have allowed public access to the data months earlier. Spotlight Delaware reports that this decision coincided with a competitive Democratic gubernatorial primary between Meyer and former Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, prompting questions about potential political motivations behind the timing.
WHYY reported that new property reassessments in Delaware could lead to significant increases in homeowners’ tax bills, ranging from 35% to 68%. For many residents, this means paying hundreds or even thousands more in annual property taxes. WHYY highlighted concerns for seniors on fixed incomes and residents of older homes who may face affordability challenges and potential displacement.
Spotlight Delaware noted that Delaware’s reassessment process had not been updated for decades, resulting in outdated and inconsistent property values used for taxation across the state. Tyler Technologies was tasked with modernizing this system and suggested releasing updated assessments by summer 2024 to provide taxpayers with adequate preparation time. However, according to Spotlight Delaware, delaying the release until November 2024 coincided with Governor Meyer’s campaign period, leading critics to argue that an earlier release might have adversely affected him during the primary.
Smith represents parts of Pike Creek, Hockessin, and Newark as part of his role in the Delaware House of Representatives’ 22nd District. A Republican, he serves on various committees including Education and Health & Human Development. The Delaware General Assembly notes his legislative focus on fiscal responsibility and accountability in government processes.
