Delaware Gov. Markell signs FY 2010 budget

Responsibly closes historic shortfall; lauds passage of administration’s education and energy reforms

July 01, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Wednesday morning made the following remarks after he signed the fiscal 2010 operating budget into law at the close of the 2009 General Assembly session. The operating budget, for the first time in years, is significantly smaller than the 2009 spending plan. Markell also signed the FY 2010 Bond Bill and Grant-in-Aid budget.

In addition to addressing the historic $800 million shortfall, Markell and the General Assembly worked to pass historic equal-rights and open-government legislation, as well as significant education and energy reforms as well other legislation that will move Delaware forward.

“Good morning. I am very pleased that we were able to resolve this historic budget crisis in a way that is fiscally responsible and maintains the State’s core services.”

“This budget cuts more than it raises in taxes, while still maintaining the rainy day fund and only spending 98% of our revenues. It is a responsible financial plan that allows our State to move forward.”

“For the first time in years, the state will have a budget that is not only smaller than the one before it – it has a budget that is hundreds of millions of dollars smaller.”

“Beyond the budget issues, we proposed a number of initiatives that have gotten a little lost in the budget discussion but are very important.”

“When I was sworn in as Governor, I said that it was not the historic challenges we faced but “how we meet them that will define us as a people. I believe that we will overcome – and that our best days do indeed lie ahead.”

“This year, in spite of the historic budget shortfall we faced, legislators sent me two pieces of very significant legislation – SB 121 and House Bill 1.”

“We have embarked upon reform in two critical areas that are priorities for my administration – education and energy.”

“Recognizing that Delaware cannot have the world-class economy we need unless we make our education system even better, I proposed, and the legislature endorsed, significant reform initiatives.”

“We are moving past the Delaware Student Testing Program to a system that will better help teachers teach and students learn (SB 68), we are providing some much needed flexibility in our schools (HS 1 to HB 199) and launching a pilot program to reward high-performing teachers (HB 158).”

“The Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act is landmark legislation that will require all utilities to reduce energy consumption across Delaware by 15 percent by the year 2015. By reducing energy consumption, families and businesses will save money that can be spent in local communities or used to create more jobs.”

“The bill also prioritizes energy efficiency and renewable sources for any increase in demand, before any new fossil fuel generation is added (SB 106).”

“We also adopted new energy efficiency building codes and passed Renewable Energy Rights legislation for solar and wind to make it easier for families and businesses to benefit from clean energy and reward investments in alternative energy (SB 59, SS 1 to SB 49, HS 1 to HB 70, SB 85, SB 153).”

“There are other important public policy areas where we have taken significant strides this year, including:

* • Making government more open and more efficient by expanding the use of videoconferencing (SB 104)
* • Protecting seniors from abuse (HB 165)
* • Enacting safeguards against predatory lending (SB 108)
* • Ensuring Delawareans can choose their own hospital visitors (HB 115)
* • Extending unemployment benefits for Delawareans hit hard by the economic downturn (SB 156, HB 170)
* • Getting drunk drivers off the road and sending a message that the behavior will not be tolerated (HB 152, SB 177)

“I also want to recognize the state employees who have, along with many others in Delaware, been asked to contribute to this budget solution. I want them to know I appreciate their sacrifice and the hard work they do every day.”

“I can tell the press corps needs some sleep, so I will close by again thanking the legislators for joining me in making the tough choices and casting the tough votes.”

“Thanks to their courage, we enter the new fiscal year with a budget in place that shrinks the size of government and is, for the first time in years, several hundred million dollars less than the prior year’s.”

“As a result, we leave here this morning with a responsible plan to move our state forward and to reduce the cost and size of state government. That is what the people of Delaware expect of us and we have delivered.”

“Thank you.”

Source: Delaware Governor