Sussex County Council is considering implementing voluntary school assessments (VSAs) to help fund school districts’ capital projects. Developers would be responsible for these VSAs or impact fees when building housing, with the funds going towards school districts to accommodate the county’s growth. Three newly elected council members, Matt Lloyd, Jane Gruenebaum, and Steve McCarron, have shown interest in VSAs, viewing them as a fair way for those moving to the area to contribute to the building of new schools.
McCarron, who previously served on the Woodbridge School Board, empathizes with districts and believes that developers should help foot the bill for growth they cause. This approach is similar to New Castle County’s practices, where impact fees are already paid by developers. Sara Hale, chief operating officer of the Milford School District, supports the idea of developers contributing to fund new facilities without burdening the entire community with tax increases. Any VSAs would need approval from the state’s Department of Education to ensure that funds are allocated appropriately.
While councilmember Matt Lloyd made an informal proposal for a building moratorium in the county, which received negative feedback, McCarron suggests focusing on other land use tactics for now. The push for VSAs reflects a shifting perspective within the council, with the goal of ensuring sustainable funding for school projects amid Sussex County’s growth.
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