After decades without an update, Sussex County’s long-awaited property reassessment is nearly complete—and it’s ending with far fewer objections than expected.
As of the March 31st deadline, fewer than 800 appeals were submitted out of nearly 200,000 properties, representing less than 1% of the total reassessments conducted.
Why the Reassessment Happened
This county-wide reassessment was mandated after a 2021 legal settlement involving the NAACP of Delaware and Delawareans for Educational Opportunity.
The groups argued that outdated property values led to inequitable school funding, especially for underserved students.
To comply with the court ruling, all counties in Delaware were required to reassess property values using current market rates as of July 1, 2023.
Sussex County was the last to send out new assessments.
Transparency and Outreach Made the Difference
Finance Director Gina Jennings credits the low appeal rate to the county’s extensive outreach efforts by taking on these action items:
- Public presentations at community events and County Council meetings
- Informational videos posted online and shared on social media
- A user-friendly tax calculator to help property owners estimate their new tax bills
Most residents saw property values increase significantly, and the tools provided helped people understand that higher assessments wouldn’t automatically mean higher taxes.
What’s Next?
- Appeals that were submitted will now go through a review process.
- The Board of Assessment will certify final numbers.
- Sussex County Council will then set a new, revenue-neutral tax rate, projected to drop from 44.5 cents to about 2.15 cents.
- These changes will take effect with the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, and updated tax bills will be mailed out in August.
County Administrator Todd F. Lawson praised the process and those behind it:
“The owners of 99 out of 100 parcels apparently saw no reason to contest, which speaks volumes about the fairness of the assessment.”
Stay Informed
This reassessment marks a historic shift for Sussex County, one that could shape the region’s financial landscape for decades.
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Sources: Delaware Live, Delaware Public Media