Gov. Matt Meyer announced Tuesday he is using a line item veto on Delaware’s fiscal year 2027 Bond Bill.
The state capital budget passed the House and State Senate chambers at 3:41 and 4:12 a.m. respectively on July 1st, during the last day of the state’s legislative session.
The measure normally gets the governor’s signature within 48 hours of that.
But Meyer said Tuesday that he “can’t justify” the $35 million planned for a Legislative Hall expansion included in the capital budget. He’s using a line-item veto to cut the allocation from the capital spending plan, but the rest of the bill remains intact.
During the Bond Bill hearing in June, Bond Bill Committee chair, State Rep. Debra Heffernan (D-Bellefonte) said the money is, in part, to build a secure entrance for Leg Hall and create more space for staff.
While $35 million was set aside for FY 2027, plans to upgrade the state house are projected to cost $116 million.
Meyer’s announcement said the state needs to focus on affordability, “and accountability demands that we put taxpayers first.”
The comments echo concerns voiced by State Rep. Mike Smith (R-Pike Creek) during the Bond Bill Committee hearing. Smith, a committee member, said he took his name off the bill because the state’s expenses are outpacing revenue.
“I don't believe now is the right time to be doing that with our fiscal outlook,” Smith said on the House floor June 30.
He added on Tuesday that he was “pleasantly surprised” by Meyer’s announcement. And with recent property reassessment and school tax issues, “it was not the right time to be spending money on something that's really benefiting ourselves.”
But Meyer's veto isn't popular with everyone. It prompted pushback from House Majority Caucus leadership, which said in a statement that the last major construction on Legislative Hall was in 1994 and the building is “out of space.”
And Rep. Heffernan said "we were sort of blindsided" as Meyer did not communicate with her or leadership about his concerns.
The state legislature created a building committee in 2021 to “study and recommend” upgrades to the statehouse.nThe House of Representatives Majority Caucus said the building committee’s plans reflect bipartisan effort with emphasis on safety recommendations.
Heffernan said it's "irresponsible and dangerous" that Meyer did not consult with disability advocates or the Capitol Police, who provided feedback that supported the legislative hall plans.
And the House of Representatives Majority Caucus statement pointed out the bond bill includes millions of dollars in funding for executive branch capital improvements, spread across school construction, work on DHSS, DSHS, and DNREC facilities, and the Carvel State Office Building.
What happens now?
The bond bill now has the governor's signature, as does the operations budget. He has one budget left on his desk, for grants-in-aid.
In Delaware, the governor’s line-item veto power is limited to striking specific budget items. Legislators could go back into session and override a veto with a 3/5th vote in both chambers. It could also create a bill that allocates the money for the project when lawmakers convene in January.
Heffernan said she and other lawmakers found out about the veto on Tuesday afternoon, when it happened. And leadership in the General Assembly “are weighing options and deciding, so we have not made any decisions at this point.”
An update for a parking garage at the statehouse is already underway, and is expected to be done in 2027.
This story was updated to reflect comments from Rep. Debra Heffernan.
