Great turn out for DCA’s Policy Builder Breakfast last week. As the General Assembly works its way toward the end of the 151^st session on June 30^th, we chose the perfect time to have Cerron Cade, Director, Office of Budget and Management, as our speaker. Many in attendance were familiar with Director Cade either in his current role or as the former Secretary of the Department of Labor.

As many of you know, Delaware’s General Assembly will be presented with three budgets developed by the Joint Finance Committee and the Capital Improvement Committee. The Joint Finance Committee puts forth the state’s Operating Budget and Grant-in-Aide budget which provides funding to the state’s nonprofit sector. The Capital Improvement Committee is expected to finalize Delaware’s Capital Improvement Budget next week. Below are some capital investment highlights of interest to DCA made by Director Cade during his presentation:

$367.2M Clean water

$75.0M Strategic Fund, Higher Education Economic Development Investment Fund,
                             Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund, and Site Readiness Fund

$26.8M Library projects matching funds

$21.0M Historical and Recreational site preservation

$111.3M Maintain and upgrade state facilities including minor capital improvements and
                              renovations

$92M Kent and Sussex County Family Courthouses and historic Customs House

$21.8M Troop 4 and Troop 6

$45.0M Capital projects at DSU, DTCC and UD

$280.1M Statewide School Infrastructure

$480M Highway/Special Programs additional funding over 5 years

The Operating Budget (SB 250) has been approved by the Joint Finance Committee and is currently in the Senate waiting for action. We will be closely watching the work of Capital Improvement Committee next week in addition to keeping an eye on the Appropriations Committees of both chambers for any last minute actions that may impact the budgets prior to their vote by the full General Assembly.