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ATTACHMENT #1 LF&A Committee Meeting of 01/12/2009 City of Dover MAYOR AND COUNCIL 1 DRAFT PROPOSED COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2009-01 2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL 3 MET: 4 That the Mayor and Council have determined that the Charter of the City of Dover, Article IV - 5 Financial Affairs, Section 50 - Debt Limit, Subsection (c)(i) should be amended by removing the 6 $3,000,000 limit on borrowing without a referendum, while maintaining a threshold of 1/4 of one 7 percent (.25) of taxable assessed value of real property of aggregate principal amount. Therefore, 8 the Mayor and Council of the City of Dover respectfully request the General Assembly of the State 9 of Delaware to amend its Charter, which amendment if adopted by the General Assembly would be 10 as follows: 11 (i) To finance public storm sewers, streets and appurtenances provided that no 12 more than 1/4 of one percent (.25%) of taxable assessed value of real property of 13 aggregate principal amount of bonds may be issued at any one time pursuant to this 14 clause and any new bonds issued pursuant to this clause may not cause the total 15 aggregate principal amount of bonds outstanding at any one time to exceed one 16 percent of the total taxable assessment for a general tax at the time such new bonds 17 are issued; and 18 ADOPTED: * 19 20 KENNETH L. HOGAN CARLETON E. CAREY, SR. 21 COUNCIL PRESIDENT MAYOR 22 SYNOPSIS 23 This amendment would remove the $3,000,000 limit on borrowing 24 without a referendum, while maintaining a threshold of 1/4 of one 25 percent (.25) of taxable assessed value of real property of aggregate 26 principal amount 27 Actions History 28 Jan 12, 2009 - Introduced in Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee P.O. Box 475 ˜ Dover, Delaware ˜19903 Community Excellence Through Quality Service

29 January 27, 2009 30 Sponsor: 31 House of Representatives 32 145th General Assembly 33 House Bill No. 34 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DOVER 35 BEING CHAPTER 175, VOLUME 75 OF THE LAWS OF 36 DELAWARE, AS AMENDED, REGARDING BOND ISSUING 37 AUTHORITY 38 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 39 (Two-thirds of all members elected to each House concurring therein): 40 Section 1. Amend Section 50 of Chapter 175, Volume 75, Laws of Delaware, by deleting 41 clause (i) of Paragraph (c) of Section 50 in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following new 42 clause (i): 43 (i) To finance public storm sewers, streets and appurtenances provided that no more 44 than 1/4 of one percent (.25%) of taxable assessed value of real property of aggregate 45 principal amount of bonds may be issued at any one time pursuant to this clause and 46 any new bonds issued pursuant to this clause may not cause the total aggregate 47 principal amount of bonds outstanding at any one time to exceed one percent of the 48 total taxable assessment for a general tax at the time such new bonds are issued; and 49 Section 2. This Act shall be effective upon its enactment in accordance with law. 50 SYNOPSIS 51 This act would remove the $3,000,000 limit on borrowing without a 52 referendum, while maintaining a threshold of 1/4 of one percent (.25) 53 of taxable assessed value of real property of aggregate principal 54 amount

55 CITY OF DOVER - PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT IN FULL CONTEXT 56 Article IV - Financial Affairs, Section 50 - Debt Limit 57 (a) Whenever the needs of the city shall require more money than is at the time in the city 58 treasury from current receipts, the council shall be authorized and empowered to anticipate current 59 revenue by borrowing such sums as shall be needed not in excess of one percent of the total taxable 60 assessment for a general tax. The amount so borrowed shall be paid back out of current revenue 61 received thereafter. 62 To exercise the power aforesaid the council shall adopt a resolution to that effect, which resolution 63 shall require the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of all the members of the council, and the 64 approval of the mayor. The indebtedness created under this section shall he evidenced by the bond, 65 or note, of the city, and the faith and credit of the city shall be deemed to be pledged thereby. 66 (b) The mayor and council is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow from time to time on 67 the faith and credit of the City of Dover sums of money for such purposes as may be deemed 68 necessary and proper by the mayor and council of the said city which purpose shall be consistent 69 with the powers conferred upon the mayor and council of the City of Dover by the Charter thereof, 70 as amended, for the management and maintenance of the said city and for these purposes the mayor 71 and council shall have full power and authority to issue bonds of the said "City of Dover." 72 The aggregate of the amounts so borrowed together with all other bonded indebtedness for which 73 the full faith and credit of the City of Dover has been pledged shall not at any time exceed a sum 74 equal to five percent of the total assessed value of real property situate within the bounds of the City 75 of Dover as such boundaries shall from time to time appear. 76 The said bonds shall be issued in one or more series, shall bear such date or dates, shall mature at 77 such time or times, shall bear interest at such rate or rates, shall be payable at such time or times, and 78 at such place or places, shall be in such denominations, and shall contain such other provisions as 79 the mayor and council may provide and shall be set forth in the said bonds. Said bonds may or may 80 not be coupon bonds and may he registered or otherwise as the mayor and council deem advisable. 81 The mayor and council shall direct and effect the preparation and sale of said bonds at such time or 82 times, at such price or prices, and upon such terms as the said mayor and council deem advisable, 83 and all the monies arising from the sale of said bonds shall be used for the municipal purposes of the 84 City of Dover specified in the resolution authorizing their issue. 85 The form of said bonds and of any coupons which may be thereunto attached shall be as prescribed 86 by the mayor and council, and all such bonds shall be signed by the mayor and the treasurer of the 87 City of Dover and sealed with the corporate seal thereof. Facsimile signatures of the mayor and 88 treasurer and a facsimile of the corporate seal may be imprinted upon such bonds and any coupons 89 attached to said bonds in lieu of the signatures of the said mayor and treasurer in their own 90 handwriting and of the affixing of the corporate seal itself. 91 Said bonds of the City of Dover shall be exempt from all state, county and municipal taxes.

CITY OF DOVER - PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT IN FULL CONTEXT Page 2 Article IV - Financial Affairs, Section 50 - Debt Limit 92 The mayor and council of the City of Dover are hereby authorized and required to levy and raise by 93 taxation in each and every year such sums of money as may be required to pay the interest accrued 94 on said bonds while all or any of said bonds remain unpaid, and the said mayor and the city council 95 are further authorized and required to levy and raise by taxation, from time to time such sum or sums 96 of money as shall be needed to establish such sinking funds as the said mayor and the city council 97 may at their discretion authorize for the redemption of said bonds, or any of them, at or before their 98 maturity and such sum or sums of money as shall be required to otherwise redeem any or all or said 99 bonds at or before their maturity. Taxes for interest and for redemption of said bonds shall be levied 100 and raised as taxes for general municipal purposes in the said city are levied and raised and shall be 101 in addition to those levied and raised for any and all other municipal purposes. 102 A statement appearing in the bonds issued under the provisions of this section to the effect that the 103 bonds have been duly authorized shall be deemed and held to be conclusive evidence in favor of the 104 lawful holder of any such bonds that the terms and conditions of this section have been fully met and 105 complied with. 106 (c) Bonds may he authorized and issued pursuant to subsection (b), without a referendum vote, 107 by a resolution of the council which shall have the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members 108 thereof and the approval of the mayor, for the following purposes: 109 (i) To finance public storm sewers, streets and appurtenances provided that no more than 110 1/4 of one percent (.25%) of total taxable assessed value of real property or 3 million 111 dollars, whichever is less, of aggregate principal amount of bonds may be issued at any one 112 time pursuant to this clause (i) and any new bonds issued pursuant to this clause (i) may not 113 cause the total aggregate principal amount of bonds outstanding at any one time pursuant 114 to this clause (i) to exceed one percent of the total taxable assessment for a general tax at the 115 time such new bonds are issued; and 116 (ii) To refund bonds secured by the city's full faith and credit, prior to their stated 117 maturity, provided that (A) the present value of the aggregate principal and interest payments 118 of the refunding bonds are not greater than the present value of the aggregate principal and 119 interest payments on the bonds to be refunded determined by discounting at the effective 120 interest rate on the refunding bonds, calculated based on the internal rate of return: and (B) 121 at the time of issuance of the refunding bonds there are deposited in escrow, pledged to 122 secure the refunded bonds, sufficient monies and/or direct obligations of, or obligation the 123 principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by, the United States government, which, 124 without regard to any reinvestment earnings, will be sufficient to pay when due all interest, 125 principal and redemption price on the refunded bonds at maturity or upon earlier call for 126 redemption. 127 (d) Except for bonds issued pursuant to subsection (c) hereof, all bonds issued under the 128 provisions of subsection (b) shall first be approved by a referendum vote of the qualified voters (as 129 herein defined) of the City of Dover.

CITY OF DOVER - PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT IN FULL CONTEXT Page 3 Article IV - Financial Affairs, Section 50 - Debt Limit 130 Notice of the holding of such referendum election shall be authorized by resolution of the mayor and 131 council, published once a week, for at least three consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper 132 circulated in the City of Dover, Delaware. Such notice shall be set out in summary form the amount 133 and purposes of such bond issue, the date and place of holding the referendum election and the hours 134 the polls will be open. 135 At said referendum election "qualified voter" shall mean every natural person who is a resident or 136 a nonresident taxable of the city, of the age of 18 years or upwards. Each qualified voter shall be 137 eligible to vote and shall have one vote. 138 The city assessor or his/her designee shall attend the election with the last city assessment and tax 139 payment records for the inspection of the election officers. The referendum election shall be held at 140 such date as the mayor and council shall designate. The referendum election shall be held at such 141 suitable place in said city as the mayor and council shall designate in said published notice. The polls 142 shall be open from 7:00 a.m. (local time), and shall close at 8:00 p.m. (local time). The judge of the 143 election shall, in the case of a tie vote on the bond issue, cast the deciding vote, otherwise judge of 144 the election shall refrain from voting, but the election clerks may vote. 145 The total votes cast for and the total votes cast against the bond issue shall be certified as correct by 146 at least two of the election officers and delivered to the mayor, or to the clerk of council immediately 147 after the total vote count has been certified. 148 The mayor and council shall at the next regular meeting after the election, or at a special meeting, 149 receive the results of the referendum election and make the same a part of the minutes of said 150 meeting, whereupon if a majority of the votes cast were for the bond issue bonds herein provided for 151 may be issued and sold as provided in subsection (b), but if at such referendum election the majority 152 of the votes cast were against the bond issue, then no bonds shall be issued nor shall any money be 153 borrowed pursuant to the resolution submitted to the referendum. 154 (e) In addition to the power otherwise granted in this section, the mayor and council may issue 155 special assessment revenue bonds to finance those public projects for which the city may levy and 156 collect special assessments pursuant to section 28 of this Charter. Such bonds shall not obligate the 157 faith and credit of the city, but shall be payable solely from the proceeds of the special assessments 158 which are pledged to the payment thereof. Such bonds shall be authorized without a referendum vote 159 by a resolution of the council which shall have the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members 160 thereof and the approval of the mayor. 161 (f) After authorization of the sale of bonds as provided in this section and in anticipation of the 162 sale and issuance of said bonds, the mayor and council may borrow money and issue notes of the city 163 for the purpose and to the extent of the amount of bonds authorized to be sold, less the amount of 164 any bonds theretofore issued under such authority. The said borrowing shall be authorized by a 165 resolution of the council which shall have the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members 166 thereof and the approval of the mayor, and the note or notes thereby authorized shall be signed by 167 the mayor and treasurer of the city. When issued and signed in accordance with this subsection (f), 168 the faith and credit of the city shall be deemed to be pledged for the repayment of all said notes, 169 except those issued pursuant to subsection (e) hereof.

CITY OF DOVER - PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT IN FULL CONTEXT Page 4 Article IV - Financial Affairs, Section 50 - Debt Limit 170 The note or notes issued in anticipation of a bond issue may be renewed from time to time, but the 171 proceeds of the sale of such bonds shall, to the extent necessary, be first used to pay and retire such 172 notes. Said notes may be deemed at par and accrued interest at any time prior to their maturity if the 173 right so to do shall have been reserved. 174 (g) For the purposes of the debt limitations prescribed in this section, (i) any bonds which have 175 been refunded pursuant to subsection (c)(ii) shall be treated as no longer outstanding; and (ii) bonded 176 indebtedness, principal amount of bonds and bonds outstanding shall be determined without regard 177 to original issue discount. 178 (Amend. of 7-12-2005 (S.B. 126) ; Amend. of 7-12-2007 (SB 146), §§ 1, 2)

ATTACHMENT #2 LF&A Committee M eeting of 01/12/2009

ATTACHMENT #3 LF&A Committee Meeting of 01/12/2009 City of Dover MAYOR AND COUNCIL 1 DRAFT PROPOSED COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2009-02 2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN COUNCIL 3 MET: 4 That the Mayor and Council have determined that the Charter of the City of Dover, Article IV - 5 Financial Affairs, Section 47 - General assessment; levy on utility property, should be amended by 6 eliminating the requirement that the assessor be a freeholder; increase the time for appeal from 7 fourteen (14) days to thirty (30) days; and to change the title and makeup of the appeals committee. 8 Therefore, the Mayor and Council respectfully request the General Assembly of the State of 9 Delaware to amend its Charter, which amendment if adopted by the General Assembly would be as 10 follows: 11 Sec. 47. General assessment; levy on utility property. 12 The City shall cause to be made a true, just, and impartial valuation and assessment 13 of all real property within the city, locating each parcel of real property by street and 14 number or other description. The valuation and assessment shall be made every three 15 years by an assessor or assessors who shall be elected by the Council at its annual 16 meeting by majority vote thereof. Before entering upon the duties of office, an 17 assessor shall be sworn or affirmed by the Mayor to perform the duties of the 18 assessor's office with fidelity and without favor or partiality. 19 Whenever Council shall direct, as set forth in the City Ordinance Section 102-1, all 20 real property in the City of Dover shall be assessed by an outside appraiser chosen 21 by Council every three (3) years. This assessment shall be in lieu of the valuation 22 and assessment made by an assessor elected by Council as described hereinabove and 23 in lieu of the assessor's duties described hereinabove. 24 In addition to the annual assessment, the assessor or assessors shall include 25 supplemental assessments made annually for the purposes of (1) adding property not 26 included in the last assessment or (2) increasing or decreasing the assessment value 27 of property which was included in the last annual assessment. 28 The annual assessment date for all real property shall be January 1st of each year. The 29 assessment of all property shall be at its true value in money as of the assessment 30 date. True value in money shall be the fair market value. P.O. Box 475 ˜ Dover, Delaware ˜19903 Community Excellence Through Quality Service

DRAFT PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. 2009-02 PAGE 2 31 The general assessment shall be set down by the assessor or assessors in two (2) or 32 more copies, as the Council shall direct, and shall be delivered to the Council as soon 33 as made. The Council shall, on the first day of April of each year, cause a copy of the 34 general assessment to be posted in two (2) public places in the city for ten (10) days. 35 The assessor shall notify the public of an appeal deadline of thirty (30) days from the 36 date of general assessment posting. 37 The Council may direct that appeals from any assessment be heard by a committee, 38 known as the Board of Assessment Appeals, of not less than three (3) members 39 appointed by the Council. The Board of Assessment Appeals shall sit at a stated place 40 and time to hear the appeals of all taxpayers dissatisfied with the assessment of their 41 properties, shall collect such information as they consider proper and necessary, and 42 shall report their findings 43 Notice of the place and time that the Board of Assessment Appeals will sit to hear 44 appeals shall be posted with the general assessment in two (2) public places for a 45 period of ten (10) days. Notice of the posting of the copies of the general assessment 46 and of the place and time of the meetings of the Board of Assessment Appeals shall 47 be published in at least one issue of a newspaper published in the city. 48 The assessment as revised and adjusted by the Board of Assessment Appeals or 49 Superior Court shall be the basis for the levy and collection of taxes for the city. 50 The Council shall have the right to levy and collect taxes on gas mains, telephone, 51 telegraph, communications systems, or trolley poles or other erection of like character 52 within the limits of the city, together with the wires thereon strung; and to this end 53 the Council may at any time direct the same to be included in or added to the general 54 assessment. 55 Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed or held to invalidate or otherwise 56 effect any assessment made prior to the approval of this section or any tax levied 57 thereunder. 58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the Mayor and Council have determined that the Charter of the 59 City of Dover, Article IV - Financial Affairs, Section 49A - Assessment, payment, and collection of 60 taxes for new construction, should be amended to allow the assessor to value property once 61 construction permits are issued, rather than waiting for occupancy and; eliminate supplemental 62 billings for new construction valued at less than $25,000. Therefore, the Mayor and Council 63 respectfully request the General Assembly of the State of Delaware to amend its Charter, which 64 amendment if adopted by the General Assembly would be as follows: 65 Sec. 49A. Assessment, payment, and collection of taxes for new construction. 66 In the event that the mayor and council of the City of Dover desire to collect and levy 67 taxes on newly constructed property not taxed by virtue of the city's annual 68 assessment, the city may enact an ordinance to do so provided that: At the beginning 69 of each quarter of each year, there shall be an increase in the valuation and 70 assessment of all newly constructed real property within the city, locating each parcel

DRAFT PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. 2009-02 PAGE 3 71 of real property by street and number or other description. Property shall be deemed 72 to be newly constructed when the city permits occupancy and use (Certificate of 73 Occupancy) or when new construction is being used or occupied for its intended 74 purpose. The said valuation and assessment shall be made by an assessor or 75 assessors who shall be elected by council in accordance with the provisions set forth 76 in Section 47 of this Charter. 77 The aforementioned assessment shall be during the months of January, April, July, 78 and October of each year. Any new construction with an added value of $25,000 or 79 less shall not be realized until the next annual assessment roll. The property owner 80 may appeal any assessment for new construction in accordance with Section 47 of 81 this Charter. 82 Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed or held to invalidate or otherwise 83 affect any assessment made prior to the approval of this section or any tax levied 84 thereunder. 85 All taxes shall be paid to the collector of taxes. Said taxes shall be paid within thirty 86 (30) days of billing and those taxes not paid shall accrue a penalty in the amount of 87 one and one-half (1½) percent per month. For every tax that is not paid as prescribed 88 herein, the tax collector shall have all the powers conferred upon or vested in the 89 Receiver of Taxes and County Treasurer for Kent County. 90 The council shall have the authority to allow errors and delinquents in the 91 assessment. 92 The provisions of 9 Del. C. § 8705 and 25 Del. C. §§ 2901 through 2905, as they may 93 from time to time be amended, shall be deemed and held to apply to all taxes laid and 94 imposed upon the provisions of this Charter. 95 ADOPTED: * 96 97 KENNETH L. HOGAN CARLETON E. CAREY, SR. 98 COUNCIL PRESIDENT MAYOR 99 SYNOPSIS 100 This amendment would codify the recommendations of the IAAO audit and Council actions of 2007 101 by eliminating the requirement that the assessor be a freeholder; increase the time for appeal from 102 fourteen (14) days to thirty (30) days; change the title and makeup of the appeals committee; allow the 103 assessor to value property once construction permits are issued, rather than waiting for occupancy and; 104 eliminate supplemental billings for new construction valued at less than $25,000. 105 Actions History 106 Jan 12, 2009 - Introduced in Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee

DRAFT PROPOSED HOUSE BILL PAGE 4 107 January 27, 2009 108 Sponsor: 109 House of Representatives 110 145th General Assembly 111 House Bill No. 112 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF DOVER BEING 113 CHAPTER 175, VOLUME 75 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE, AS AMENDED, 114 REGARDING TAX ASSESSMENT AND APPEALS 115 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two- 116 thirds of all members elected to each House concurring therein): 117 Section 1. Amend Section 47 of Chapter 175, Volume 75, Laws of Delaware, by deleting Section 118 47 of Article IV in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 119 Sec. 47. General assessment; levy on utility property. 120 The City shall cause to be made a true, just, and impartial valuation and assessment 121 of all real property within the city, locating each parcel of real property by street and 122 number or other description. The valuation and assessment shall be made every three 123 years by an assessor or assessors who shall be elected by the Council at its annual 124 meeting by majority vote thereof. Before entering upon the duties of office, an 125 assessor shall be sworn or affirmed by the Mayor to perform the duties of the 126 assessor's office with fidelity and without favor or partiality. 127 Whenever Council shall direct, as set forth in the City Ordinance Section 102-1, all 128 real property in the City of Dover shall be assessed by an outside appraiser chosen 129 by Council every three (3) years. This assessment shall be in lieu of the valuation 130 and assessment made by an assessor elected by Council as described hereinabove and 131 in lieu of the assessor's duties described hereinabove. 132 In addition to the annual assessment, the assessor or assessors shall include 133 supplemental assessments made annually for the purposes of (1) adding property not 134 included in the last assessment or (2) increasing or decreasing the assessment value 135 of property which was included in the last annual assessment. 136 The annual assessment date for all real property shall be January 1st of each year. The 137 assessment of all property shall be at its true value in money as of the assessment 138 date. True value in money shall be the fair market value. 139 The general assessment shall be set down by the assessor or assessors in two (2) or 140 more copies, as the Council shall direct, and shall be delivered to the Council as soon

DRAFT PROPOSED HOUSE BILL PAGE 5 141 as made. The Council shall, on the first day of April of each year, cause a copy of the 142 general assessment to be posted in two (2) public places in the city for ten (10) days. 143 The assessor shall notify the public of an appeal deadline of thirty (30) days from the 144 date of general assessment posting. 145 The Council may direct that appeals from any assessment be heard by a committee, 146 known as the Board of Assessment Appeals, of not less than three (3) members 147 appointed by the Council. The Board of Assessment Appeals shall sit at a stated place 148 and time to hear the appeals of all taxpayers dissatisfied with the assessment of their 149 properties, shall collect such information as they consider proper and necessary, and 150 shall report their findings 151 Notice of the place and time that the Board of Assessment Appeals will sit to hear 152 appeals shall be posted with the general assessment in two (2) public places for a 153 period of ten (10) days. Notice of the posting of the copies of the general assessment 154 and of the place and time of the meetings of the Board of Assessment Appeals shall 155 be published in at least one issue of a newspaper published in the city. 156 The assessment as revised and adjusted by the Board of Assessment Appeals or 157 Superior Court shall be the basis for the levy and collection of taxes for the city. 158 The Council shall have the right to levy and collect taxes on gas mains, telephone, 159 telegraph, communications systems, or trolley poles or other erection of like character 160 within the limits of the city, together with the wires thereon strung; and to this end 161 the Council may at any time direct the same to be included in or added to the general 162 assessment. 163 Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed or held to invalidate or otherwise 164 effect any assessment made prior to the approval of this section or any tax levied 165 thereunder. 166 Section 2. Amend Section 49A of Chapter 175, Volume 75, Laws of Delaware, by deleting Section 167 49A of Article IV in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 168 Sec. 49A. Assessment, payment, and collection of taxes for new construction. 169 In the event that the mayor and council of the City of Dover desire to collect and levy 170 taxes on newly constructed property not taxed by virtue of the city's annual 171 assessment, the city may enact an ordinance to do so provided that: At the beginning 172 of each quarter of each year, there shall be an increase in the valuation and 173 assessment of all newly constructed real property within the city, locating each parcel 174 of real property by street and number or other description. Property shall be deemed 175 to be newly constructed when the city permits occupancy and use (Certificate of 176 Occupancy) or when new construction is being used or occupied for its intended 177 purpose. The said valuation and assessment shall be made by an assessor or 178 assessors who shall be elected by council in accordance with the provisions set forth 179 in Section 47 of this Charter.

DRAFT PROPOSED HOUSE BILL PAGE 6 180 The aforementioned assessment shall be during the months of January, April, July, 181 and October of each year. Any new construction with an added value of $25,000 or 182 less shall not be realized until the next annual assessment roll. The property owner 183 may appeal any assessment for new construction in accordance with Section 47 of 184 this Charter. 185 Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed or held to invalidate or otherwise 186 affect any assessment made prior to the approval of this section or any tax levied 187 thereunder. 188 All taxes shall be paid to the collector of taxes. Said taxes shall be paid within thirty 189 (30) days of billing and those taxes not paid shall accrue a penalty in the amount of 190 one and one-half (1½) percent per month. For every tax that is not paid as prescribed 191 herein, the tax collector shall have all the powers conferred upon or vested in the 192 Receiver of Taxes and County Treasurer for Kent County. 193 The council shall have the authority to allow errors and delinquents in the 194 assessment. 195 The provisions of 9 Del. C. § 8705 and 25 Del. C. §§ 2901 through 2905, as they may 196 from time to time be amended, shall be deemed and held to apply to all taxes laid and 197 imposed upon the provisions of this Charter. 198 Section 3. This Act shall be effective upon its enactment in accordance with law. 199 SYNOPSIS 200 This act would eliminate the requirement that the assessor be a 201 freeholder; increase the time for appeal from fourteen (14) days to 202 thirty (30) days; change the title and makeup of the appeals 203 committee; allow the assessor to value property once construction 204 permits are issued, rather than waiting for occupancy and; eliminate 205 supplemental billings for new construction valued at less than 206 $25,000.