I'm honored to have served New Castle County for the last 16 years.
Councilwoman Valerie George, 5th District
Improving your quality of life in New Castle County
Local government should impact your life in positive ways and make your tax dollars go farther in the areas that make the most impact for you.
Affordable housing
New Castle County can definitely do more to address housing affordability by pursuing policies that reduce the tax burden on residents while ensuring new development contributes its fair share. One approach would be to increase property tax exemptions for residents, particularly those who are most burdened by the rising costs because they are on a fixed income aka our seniors. At the same time, the County needs to increase impact fees on developers to help offset the costs that new development places on infrastructure, schools, public services, etc. I have a track record of supporting increased fees on developers when appropriate, and I believe developers should contribute fairly to the costs associated with growth. I'm looking to move legislation to improve these policies so they can work together to provide greater tax relief to residents while asking developers to shoulder a greater share of the costs created by new development. I encourage responsible growth, but that growth should not come at the expense of the residents who already call our communities home.
Economic Development
New Castle County has done an excellent job in the recent past by creating the SPUR (Streamlined Planning and Unified Review) and the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. Using them together is making the County more business-friendly for both new and existing employers.
SPUR attracts new employers by providing a faster, more predictable development and permitting process for projects that create jobs and investment. This reduces delays and helps businesses navigate approvals so we are more competitive with surrounding communities.
At the same time, the SBE Program ensures existing local businesses get the help and resources they need to compete for County contracts and expands opportunities for local vendors. This keeps more public dollars in the local economy.
Together, these programs create a strong business ecosystem: SPUR brings new investment and employers to New Castle County, while SBE helps existing small businesses grow and participate in that investment. I will continue improving both programs and measure the results so if adjustments are needed they can be made quickly. This will ensure that economic development benefits all NCC businesses.
Community Support
Community boards (HOAs and Maintenance Corporations) desperately need support and resources. You shouldn’t be forced to hire a property management company to run your community. In the past, a community could hire someone to cut the grass and plow the streets and distribute those costs to the community, who would happily pay their share and call it a day, but those days are over.
Even the most dedicated and qualified volunteer board members can be pushed to the breaking point by the demands of managing a community, outdated governing documents, and limited support from the courts (the primary enforcement mechanism available to them). Communities need practical resources, clearer governing documents, and meaningful support so volunteers can focus on maintaining and improving their neighborhoods rather than simply trying to navigate an increasingly complex system. I'm taking on these issues directly with the attorneys and state agencies that develop the documents and policies to resolve these issues. Because of this work we have seen renewed community engagement.
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