Real Solutions to Fix Delaware’s Deficit, Not Another Tax Hike

By State Rep. Bryan Shupe

November 3, 2025

In recent days, Delawareans have been asking a straightforward question: Where can the state cut spending right now to avoid another tax hike?

It’s the right question. Delaware faces a serious budget deficit, and while some in Dover reflexively look to taxpayers for more money, families and small businesses cannot afford to be the state’s ATM. At home and in business, Delawareans make hard choices, cut waste, and live within their means. State government must do the same.

With a special legislative session on November 13, we have a chance to shift direction — away from short-term spending and toward long-term responsibility. That means identifying real, immediate savings, not commissions, studies, or vague promises to save later. Here are three places to start today:

1. Stop the $150 Million Legislative Hall Parking Garage and Private Tunnel

At a time when parents are asking for more reading support in classrooms, when neighborhoods are asking for more police presence and safer streets, and when infrastructure needs across Delaware continue to grow, the state should not be spending $150 million on a luxury parking garage and private tunnel for politicians.

This project must be stopped — not paused or reconsidered. Stopped.

Delawareans work hard for every dollar they earn. They deserve a government that prioritizes their needs, not perks for elected officials. Ending this spending would immediately protect taxpayers and send a clear message: public service is about serving the public, not subsidizing comfort for politicians.

2. Re-Evaluate the $145 Million University of Delaware Subsidy

Delaware taxpayers currently provide $145 million to the University of Delaware, much of which funds salaries and benefits. Meanwhile, K-12 schools across our state are fighting for critical resources — whether for reading specialists, school safety officers, or student mental health support.

Higher education matters, but taxpayers shouldn’t be the only funding source when the university has an endowment and private fundraising capacity. We need a balanced conversation about how much UD can absorb internally and how much taxpayer support is truly necessary when our local public schools continue to struggle.

This isn’t anti-education — it’s pro-accountability, pro-transparency, and pro-prioritization.

3. Eliminate Over $50 Million in Private Wilmington Building Subsidies

Each year, buried in bond bill epilogue language, more than $50 million in taxpayer dollars is directed to privately owned buildings in Wilmington. These are not state facilities. They are private real estate projects funded through carve-outs that many Delawareans never even hear about.

This spending should stop.

Government shouldn’t quietly funnel millions to private developers while volunteer fire companies, EMS providers, and school districts across Delaware fight for basic funding. Every community deserves fairness — not just the one with the most political pull.

The Bigger Issue: A Spending Culture That Outpaces Reality

These cuts alone total more than $345 million. But the deeper problem isn’t just a handful of projects — it’s a culture of spending without long-term discipline.

Over the last four years, Delaware state spending has grown 30%, while revenue has grown only 18%. For next year’s budget, spending increased another 7%, despite revenue growing less than 2%.

In a household or business, that math doesn’t work. It shouldn’t work in government either.

Budgeting based on political convenience instead of economic reality always leads to the same result — tax hikes. Unless we change course, Delawareans will once again be forced to pay more to fix problems government created.

A Responsible Path Forward: The Government Limitation Act (HB 427)

To protect taxpayers and restore responsible budgeting, I have revived HB 427, the Government Limitation Act. This legislation caps annual state spending growth using real-world economic indicators, like GDP and private-sector wage growth, ensuring that spending grows responsibly — not recklessly.

Many states use similar models successfully. The result: more stable finances, fewer sudden deficits, and fewer tax increases.

This is not about partisanship. It is about stewardship. Delaware’s budget should serve taxpayers — not the other way around.

Fiscal Discipline Today Means Lower Taxes Tomorrow

Delaware stands at a turning point. We can continue overspending and turning to taxpayers when the bills come due, or we can lead with discipline, transparency, and respect for the people who fund this state in the first place.

Delawareans sacrifice, plan, and work hard. They deserve a government that reflects those values. Stopping wasteful projects, prioritizing core needs, and adopting long-term fiscal safeguards will protect families, strengthen our economy, and keep Delaware affordable for the next generation.

Now is the time to act. Let’s protect taxpayers instead of punishing them. Let’s stop the waste, fix our budget, and chart a responsible path forward — before the problem grows larger and the price for inaction becomes even higher.