AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LEWES.

This Act amends the Charter of the City of Lewes as follows. This Act modifies City contract requirements by 1) raising the aggregate contract value threshold for which competitive bidding shall not be required to $50,000 rather than the previous threshold of $25,000; 2) adding an exception to the competitive bidding requirement for certain existing contracts, which were previously competitively bid at the State or County level; and 3) adding an exception to the competitive bidding requirement for contracts made pursuant to a cooperative or joint purchasing agreement. This Act also modifies the City’s power and authority to borrow money and issue bonds or certificates of indebtedness by 1) clarifying the City’s authority to borrow money and issue bonds or certificates of indebtedness to provide funds for purchase real estate. This Act also modifies the assessment of taxes by 1) permitting the City to appoint a qualified firm to serve as the City Assessor or utilize County property assessments in lieu of appointing a City Assessor; and 2) modifies the appellate process for the assessment of taxes in certain situations. This Act also places a cap on the City’s power to collect taxes for any and all municipal purposes upon certain real property at one half of one percent (0.5%) of the full assessed value of land and improvements within the City, or $5,000,000, whichever is greater, rather than the previous cap of $3,500,000. The Act also modifies the refund of taxes and penalties for delinquent taxes. This Act also modifies the notice requirements and procedures relating to the City’s power to cause to be paved or repaved the sidewalks of said city or any part or portion thereof, to cause to be repaired or re-laid existing curbs or gutters.

• Kendra JohnsonD