Huxtable owes taxpayers an apology

I write this letter as both a former property owner/taxpayer in the Town of Milton and now a resident of Lewes, all 6th Senate District. Sen. Russ Huxtable ignored his constituents once again, and this time, he didn’t have the courage to look them in the eye to explain himself.

In September, the Town of Milton approved its fiscal year budget with a significant property tax increase. The increase at 9% for FY 2024 came on the heels of a 17% increase in FY 2023. Residents were told after the first tax hike that all means to avoid future increases would be undertaken. For the most part, Milton officials were prudent in their decision making, but where the town lacked assistance was from Huxtable, their senator, who, on May 18, decided to speak – or in better words not to speak – on their behalf by being officially recorded as “not voting” on Senate Bill 92 when the bill came to a roll call.

The legislation, which, among other things, decreases the threshold for the number of municipal employees needed to unionize, was strongly opposed by Cape Region towns such as Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, along with nonpartisan groups like the Delaware League of Local Governments, which counseled legislators not to support the bill due to the negative fiscal impact it would have on small towns’ budgets. In the case of Milton, as reported by Ryan Mavity in the Cape Gazette’s Sept. 5 edition, when asked about budget increases in the town’s legal fees, Milton Town Manager Kristy Rogers said that it was in part due to their police officers unionizing and the town needing lawyers to help negotiate a contract. Milton residents can thank Huxtable for his dubious “not voting,” putting more taxpayer dollars in the pockets of lawyers.

Huxtable, in fear of alienating unions who help bankroll his campaign, took the politically weak way out by trying to have it both ways. SB 92, with strong support from union-heavy New Castle County Democrats, passed along party lines. By being recorded as “not voting,” Huxtable could crow to his union overlords that he wasn’t against them and at the same time attempt to save face with local town leaders by not voting in the affirmative, knowing full well the bill would pass, and they would be stuck implementing the tax hike and placing it on the backs of town residents.

Instead of taking a page from his fellow Democrat Pete Schwartzkopf, who voted against SB 92 after he listened carefully to both sides and decided in the end it would hurt small towns and residents, Huxtable hit constituents below the belt where it hurts: their wallets. For all voters sick of arrogant political tricks, this one takes the cake, and all Cape Region residents, not just those in Milton, should be demanding an apology from Huxtable for his grinch-like cowardice.