New Castle County Council

Several residents raised concerns over the potential changes even though Councilmembers voted to table the ordinance for now.

The 17.2% take hike will add $102 per year, or about $8.50 monthly for those living in the median $378,000 assessed value home in the county.

County Executive Marcus Henry said the county relied on temporary pandemic emergency funds and reserves to pay for permanent operating costs the past few years.

After an hour of public comment deeply in favor of regulations, County Councilmember David Carter said he wished he could pass the original draft. But his colleagues did not vote in favor of the such strict legislation.

Delmarva Power filed a request for a $67.8 million rate increase at the start of the year.

The county received about $11 million in funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the SIPPRA Family HOPE Project.

The County Executive will now appoint the Board's chairperson, a decision that was previously left to the Boardmembers.

Councilmembers will vote on the ordinance Nov. 18.

The Project Labor Agreement established the terms of employment for an estimated 3,500 construction workers, including union bricklayers, sheet metal workers and roofers.

County Councilmember David Carter said he plans to present the ordinance for a vote by late November.