[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6097886,"mediaKeyId","2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906","parentId",2826320,"title","Housing authority seeks $25 million-plus package to expand production, downtown reinvestment and rental assistance","audioSeconds",2068,"startMs",4523000,"endMs",6591000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906&start=4523&end=6591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906/thumbnail_4523000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097886/Delaware/Housing-authority-seeks-25-million-plus-package-to-expand-production-downtown-reinvestment-and-rental-assistance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097886-f9d07eb7ff557302881106e5e1579653/orig.mp4?Expires=1770526229&Signature=mQ2TcWnJdoVjrX3-WTryHY2seyxGhOjNCg6g6ZYbjfyd-c~cHl1bIu6W8sh-Db0n2sBWRhhsdhLGlo7DwpBJvycNq0E0sq8cQBICVGkdnMOG6KoLaI2P0GZR48E~Yv73qW~tCDzpGtjohR0fnsT0lVHIZPY1CDqryyGHlkgg6wnTtwWMMcmH91pOuJ8Sh4R-3ZOG90S56KSDkkK6cuzK1bV24m~jWvuKltsq9y4CkMxe7MG0da~EoReOqc0HOKO20-FnlkPLsUNgpAkg4ntpCLxUOziSEITjABghHp3rkCPu2AQUEadFr6-7VVA4fij9Rbk5nhhP3mCHuu8yBoS9RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","The Delaware State Housing Authority presented a multi-pronged housing and homelessness package to the committee focused on increasing affordable housing supply, downtown reinvestment and rental assistance.

DSHA Director Matthew Heckles said the governor's recommended capital package would include $15 million for the Housing Development Fund (HDF), $5.5 million for the Downtown Development District (DDD) program, $3 million for a newly launched workforce housing program, and $2 million for the Strong Neighborhoods housing fund. Director Heckles told the committee the HDF is flexible and is the primary vehicle to subsidize low‑income rental housing and support projects that leverage federal Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit equity. He described how HDF allocations in prior years helped leverage tax credit equity and other grant and private financing in projects such as Riverside/Imani Village in Wilmington and smaller rehabilitation projects.

Heckles said housing supply remains constrained, noting the state now has a unified public housing waiting list with more than 32,000 applicants since the list was opened; he said roughly 50,000 Delaware renter households spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The director asked for continued operating support as well: the governor's operating recommendations include $10 million for DSHA programs, including a $2 million increase for the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP). DSHA said the SRAP increase would expand the number of households served and help the program keep pace with rising rents.

Heckles also described the Downtown Development Districts program as a high‑leverage economic development tool; DSHA noted $40 million invested since inception yielded more than $575 million in private investment in downtown projects. The Strong Neighborhoods fund will continue to acquire, renovate and return vacant or distressed properties to productive use.

Ending: Heckles asked the committee to support the recommended capital and operating funds, saying they are intended both to accelerate production of new affordable housing and to preserve existing stock while providing targeted rental assistance for households at risk of homelessness.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Capital Improvement Committee Meeting Mar 31, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Delaware State Housing Authority requested capital allocations and operating dollars to expand affordable housing production, support downtown reinvestment, and grow rental assistance, including $15 million for the Housing Development Fund and a $2 million operating increase for SRAP.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature DE Collection, Legislative, Delaware","taxId",77708,"location","Delaware","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097890,"DHSS outlines campus maintenance needs; public health lab expansion and DHCI construction remain on schedule amid grant concerns",1907,2488000,4395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906&start=2488&end=4395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906/thumbnail_2488000.jpg","/articles/6097890/Delaware/DHSS-outlines-campus-maintenance-needs-public-health-lab-expansion-and-DHCI-construction-remain-on-schedule-amid-grant-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097890-86b5e84329040d042ec24b323f0fff4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770526229&Signature=UOhOCCBb7uq5E-9dyq1YzNIwqVmkLgllJiEdUyNp-xOccMOHsXfzCszhAgZ8M99wluNnGrOPkGilcqVJAzISaYDSBWi--VwBp~lAynFqD1vuwOmDape-MjTsv2Kjjur1zLUyJBwX71EP2Krx~piW7ParSmF-LrXdkHyKfVFg5nyfyfngQcgEFxNUjhd2rJR1rtvzn2LSayYL0VHDFHyBSnb2datvVXwtYSPiiTqDUWJ1rSublWgDwZbT4Yq2WXZvV4x9tkLu3fS9UNzMXW8RcIHm68zakHYskiSvBFHnL2LKouggCy~7eEh08UQhOOuNIfgd7xgQFGMfIXJCquncUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary Josette Manning and DHSS staff summarized the department's FY 2026 capital priorities and ongoing projects, telling the committee that the department manages multiple state campuses, service centers, group homes and leased properties.

DHSS reported a deferred maintenance backlog of roughly $30 million across state facilities and described recent project work: replacement of campus electrical systems, roof work at the Stokely Campus, and consolidation of building controls. Secretary Manning highlighted two major, ongoing projects: the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill (DHCI), where construction is expected to begin spring 2025 with a December 2026 completion estimate; and the Delaware Public Health Laboratory expansion, which DHSS said is scheduled for completion in August 2025 and will add biosafety level 3 capacity and move infectious disease and immunization programs into updated space.

The recommended FY 2026 capital budget includes roughly $28.8 million for DHSS for roof replacements, minor capital improvements, security upgrades and drinking water program work. Manning described a $1.133 million SAN (storage area network) upgrade request to meet federal audit requirements and optimize federal match, and a $2.5 million request for security improvements at the Mitchell Building (a level 5 forensic facility) including a sally port and revised family visitation arrangements.

Committee members pressed DHSS on the status of federal draw issues and whether the public health lab or other projects were at risk; Manning acknowledged federal uncertainty and said work at the lab is expected to continue while staff track federal funding developments. On other capital items, Facilities staff noted one specific federal funding exposure for a DHCI-related project ($10 million of grant funds tied to that project) and described procurement and historic review steps that remain for some active builds.

Ending: Manning and facilities staff asked the committee for support of the maintenance and security items in the governor's recommended budget and said they would continue to provide updates on federal draw status and project timelines.","DHSS presented facility operations, deferred maintenance needs (about $30M), the public health laboratory expansion (expected August 2025) and the new Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill (construction expected complete Dec. 2026); committee members asked about federal funding risk for lab and other projects.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097895,"Legislative Hall expansion, parking garage and other capital priorities draw scrutiny at hearings",1904,1428000,3332000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906&start=1428&end=3332","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906/thumbnail_1428000.jpg","/articles/6097895/Delaware/Legislative-Hall-expansion-parking-garage-and-other-capital-priorities-draw-scrutiny-at-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097895-694d2c7c1dc238136dbe32964f16537b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770526229&Signature=Z7NQ21~rhGorecEtegw6rENL-SPLgmiO-dEbyuVyIniIdhuMDAa2P4pmzOP0sySNhircJTzlpmqWHaNTjZZUrzsedXur-do3V8ayiJ7KcpM6RE8aNSM7begwI7dhXE36UEgnA4wmrBcO5N0C09258YSFxufcegHeDD2xWYL-eP1kfoLyTOXC5QYnT~e5MluAWNtyErXwguyXbgase9xz3xEDOzZISOtdxeHrTqf~3HcZyYJG3T5b2E7n3W39appBK4FnJgBgJHMDYurorRQy6Ry1cFNQywlEMZbuEzLxFRmfsL5SrBf-cZS7t63b8n57zilhKIjNV1t9U3zgmd6LAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Capital projects in the governor's recommended bond package featured prominently during the hearing. Director Maxwell and OMB outlined allocations for school construction and renovation, higher education campus improvements, affordable housing, environmental conservation, and several large state facility projects including the Emily P. Bissell Forensic Science Facility, Legislative Hall expansion and an associated parking garage.

Maxwell detailed amounts recommended for the bond bill: $171.5 million for school construction and renovation; $42 million for higher education campus improvements (split across institutions); $30 million for school building deferred maintenance; and funding directed at housing, downtown development, riverfront work and park improvements. On public safety and corrections the recommendation included $41.3 million for statewide correctional facility and safety improvements and $30 million for an Emily P. Bissell forensic science facility construction allocation.

OMB and Facilities Management also described the Legislative Hall expansion ($50,000,000 in the capital request) and a separate parking garage project for the downtown legislative campus, including a plan to connect the garage to Legislative Hall via an underground pedestrian tunnel. During public comment John Flaherty of the Delaware Coalition for Open Government urged the committee to reject the Legislative Hall expansion and parking garage, calling the projects an unnecessary use of scarce capital dollars and noting available public parking nearby.

Committee members and presenters discussed the Legislative Hall scope and cost, the design choices that affect price, and alternatives. Maxwell and Facilities officials said funding decisions tried to balance preservation of historic character and functional needs, and explained some design elements (such as façade treatments and roof lines) that add cost; Facilities said construction plans include energy features like solar panels on the parking structure. Public commenters and at least one committee member questioned whether the project should move forward while federal grant uncertainty and other capital needs persist.

Ending: Officials said the projects are included in the recommended bond bill and construction will proceed when funding and permitting milestones are completed; the committee requested more detailed cost breakdowns and materials to address public concerns ahead of markup.","Committee heard details of recommended capital allocations for Legislative Hall expansion and a parking garage alongside large investments in schools, courthouses and the Emily P. Bissell forensic facility; public comment and committee members raised concerns about the Legislative Hall expansion and parking garage costs and necessity.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097900,"State officials warn federal grant drawdowns are disrupting some capital projects",545,1591000,2136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906&start=1591&end=2136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906/thumbnail_1591000.jpg","/articles/6097900/Delaware/State-officials-warn-federal-grant-drawdowns-are-disrupting-some-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097900-8b1a696916b98e34ec0c5dc2bc4edcc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770526229&Signature=nBWQIK~~fpTKn2Qk~EGxSbcZjNdH-StEjbWUHEinu~KX94cLWOC59r~XwWybOCohKTzEWY6PlzIfds48oI-1hUdgqrnrRgtpBx6eu4~2ec6htZCvosCBHsVqh544OD-wMX8WWiW-XLGvZBRRNJPaWzmqtjwYy7MeMiniONT8ZlfbqM9dBCiLY9gWdtIc1KLYSLXWDC7wZX0hUUj-HgJlGrql~1hQItohn2xWlZe7H~3rhYw0b6AJ8gOhjhfBvd-wPxXX8ua~HHJAthAVU62uEa8ZYdVElv1Q-Xzohg5hFQUBiz3D3XQarc-Crq86ZNTLrK-dlDAy-6l3oeAaGzHLOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members and OMB officials discussed disruptions to state capital projects caused by problems drawing federal grant funds and the resulting exposure to state budgets.

Director Maxwell reported committee members' calls about projects that were paused after federal drawdowns failed. He said one DHSS laboratory project could not draw down a federal ELC grant and that contractors were briefly removed from the job. Maxwell said the DHSS lab project was funded by the bond bill ($3,000,000 state allocation), an ELC federal grant (approximately $43,000,000 total), and ARPA cash on hand; OMB reported about $5.9 million of exposure on the laboratory project if the federal funding were not available and said there was about $2.8 million of ARPA cash that could be used to continue the project in the short term.

OMB told the committee it is gathering a department‑by‑department accounting of capital projects that could be at risk if federal capital grants are curtailed, and would aim to provide detailed exposure estimates by committee markup. Maxwell said that, while ARPA funding was not the principal concern, several other federal grants and construction draws pose near‑term uncertainty and that the state may need to consider contingency financing for projects that are substantially complete.

Committee members asked for an estimate of total potential exposure. In response, Maxwell said that if every federal grant were to disappear, the exposure across multiple departments could be in the neighborhood of $4,000,000,000; he stressed that this was a broad upper‑bound estimate and said staff were continuing to refine department‑level exposure assessments.

Officials from DHSS and Facilities Management confirmed there are projects that rely on federal grants and that some work is proceeding while federal draw issues are resolved. For the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill (DHCI), DHSS reported ARPA and other federal funds were significant components of project financing and said the project is largely under contract and in active construction; Facilities Management said there remained federal compliance steps (including Section 106 historic review) and that some subcontracts and payments were in process.

Ending: OMB and agency staff told the committee they would compile department‑by‑department exposure lists, estimate maximum potential liabilities, and discuss contingency plans during upcoming meetings prior to budget markup.","Officials told the committee that some federally funded capital projects had trouble drawing federal funds; OMB and agencies are compiling exposure estimates and contingency plans after at least one DHSS project temporarily halted work because a federal draw failed.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097904,"State releases FY 2026 financial overview showing gap between budget growth and revenue projections",833,619000,1452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906&start=619&end=1452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826320-c2aa40253658cdba5e1d053c1df0c906/thumbnail_619000.jpg","/articles/6097904/Delaware/State-releases-FY-2026-financial-overview-showing-gap-between-budget-growth-and-revenue-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097904-0a2d1f798d08a9406397f1f98fe2c2f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770526229&Signature=XoeI4yD~8zrjvHXem7F5gFAXrk7C0Q11eYJUZh9fwEb46BnvWt2kuk1wcfeYkQS4HSX7jC-wGtNLNV~zwa2Q8KwerCxLqkUwbapLhmkWWrTpf2QFDpvqp58OaS2WqFySNtt4kHMVjESAIt4OaYildEVXd2plyWRm33t7o6y-1abCr-WICo74ArlNVJc5wvEV486rx03f9nygMowEYRl3h2Z70lJVDn0I388SVU4Yuj2ET3sXR64YFME8Rv0neFidQVOnFHafSewnxmhNG0JN95GlcDdd-Mjdz4oAJdT~-qTx-O-JuhjfKwC3Gl0kSVHPBPsVkdOJQ3vUt1xsLlmW1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Maxwell of the Office of Management and Budget delivered a statewide FY 2026 financial overview, telling the Joint Committee on Capital Improvements that the recommended budget totals $6,581,100,000 with a bond bill just under $938,000,000.

Maxwell said the two largest revenue drivers are the personal income tax (35.4 percent) and corporate/incorporation revenue (27.7 percent). He told the committee the largest state expenditure remains public education at just under 36 percent of spending, followed by health and social services at 26.7 percent of the state share.

OMB highlighted that the governor's reset budget grows the operating budget by 7.37 percent compared to FY 2025, while revenue projections used in the financial plan show slower growth. \"Revenues projected to grow next year at 1.9 percent, although the budget that's been presented is growing at 7.4 percent,\" Maxwell said. He warned that if operating budgets continue to outpace revenue growth in the out years, the state would need to draw on the Budget Stabilization Fund. Under an illustrative scenario in the presentation, sustaining a 5 percent budget growth rate through FY 2028 would require drawing approximately $381 million from stabilization; continuing beyond that could exhaust the fund and create a multi‑hundred million dollar deficit.

Maxwell summarized the major \"door openers\" (new or annualized costs that increase the budget) that drive FY 2026 growth: Medicaid ($85.5 million) and the Public Education Compensation Commission recommendations (which follow recommendations to reach a $60,000 starting teacher salary). He also said discretionary growth is concentrated in personnel costs (salary policy and collective bargaining) and that personnel makes up a majority of discretionary increases.

On the capital side, Maxwell outlined the recommended bond bill: about $682.7 million for state capital projects and $255.2 million for transportation projects, with cash-to-bond allocations and cash appropriations for capital also reduced versus recent years. He said the budget maintains a $469.2 million balance in the stabilization fund for FY 2026 but noted out‑year risk if revenue growth remains slow.

The presentation closed with an overview of major capital allocations in the recommended bond bill, from school construction and higher-education campus improvements to investments in affordable housing and natural resources. Maxwell fielded committee questions on how proposed revenue changes (including a proposed personal income tax adjustment) were reflected in the plan and on the plan's treatment of one‑time supplemental items.

Looking ahead, Maxwell said the Department of Finance and OMB will continue revenue and planning work in May and June and emphasized the long‑range sensitivity of the plan to revenue assumptions.

Ending: Committee members pressed for additional detail on assumptions used for revenue and cost growth; Maxwell said staff would continue to update forecasts and provide additional materials during the markup process.","OMB Director Maxwell presented the Meyer administration's FY 2026 financial overview, showing a proposed $6.58 billion budget, $938 million bond package, and a gap between projected revenue growth and the proposed operating budget that could draw down the Budget Stabilization Fund in future years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Housing authority seeks $25 million-plus package to expand production, downtown reinvestment and rental assistance

DHSS outlines campus maintenance needs; public health lab expansion and DHCI construction remain on schedule amid grant concerns

Legislative Hall expansion, parking garage and other capital priorities draw scrutiny at hearings

State officials warn federal grant drawdowns are disrupting some capital projects

State releases FY 2026 financial overview showing gap between budget growth and revenue projections