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June 11, 2000
By Staff
To preserve Delaware's economic prosperity hard decisions will have to be made.
Can Delaware reduce the number of government layers we now have? Should we?
Will we find a way to improve the quality of life in the state's urban areas?
Is it possible to establish real, site-based decision making in our public schools?
Should the state improve transit and day care systems to reduce barriers to employment?
Is it advisable that the next governor establish a public-private committee on land use and infrastructure?
For more than two years Delaware's future has been under intense scrutiny by dozens of people under the aegis of the Delaware Public Policy Institute. Tomorrow, the work of the hundreds of people involved in the "Choices for Delaware" program will be unveiled at a symposium at the Riverfront Arts Center
In today's Perspective section are excerpts from the executive summaries of the five task force reports. They describe the problems facing Delaware and offer solutions to them or suggest processes by which the problems can be addressed.
The state's economy continues to be a healthy, growing one. It has outpaced the vibrant national economy in almost all measurements. But, just as there are signs of slowing nationally, there are signs that Delaware's unprecedented growth will slow as well. These downturns are cyclical and, probably, unavoidable. What's important is to construct an economy that does not rely on any one element for growth and productivity. This is what Delaware has done well in the last 20 years and what tomorrow's session hopes to continue for the next two decades.
Economic planning roots are decades old
The process of anticipating the future in economic terms began in Delaware during the du Pont administration when economic calamity gave birth to a number of reform measures: the establishment of Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, the creation of the Rainy Day Fund and the decision to budget at 98 percent of revenues.
With these reforms in place it was possible for the Castle and Carper administrations to focus on growth and development. Unfortunately, for a time there was insufficient attention given to the consequences of rapid growth. But that soon ended when roadway gridlock and environmental degradation became the subjects of news stories and talk show discussions.
Land use and transportation planning
Even though there has been a draft comprehensive plan for the state since 1967, development is largely the province of the county governments. They control zoning which controls where and how development takes place. The counties didn't pay sufficient attention to the consequences of growth until about 10 years ago and even then, efforts to control growth were spotty and inadequate.
But despite the counties' primary authority, the state controls the ultimate weapon in the war on unchecked development: transportation. The state controls roads, highways and transit, upon which all development is dependent.
The words "quality of life" as a meaningful adjunct to growth and development were first heard in the Castle administration. That's when directing growth and impact fees were initially discussed.
During the Carper years more coordination among cabinet officials and with county government was achieved.
The legislature, too, became involved, adopting legislation intended to slow, if not halt, development.
The work of the "Choices for Delaware" land use study committee is the fulfillment of a number of earlier studies and symposiums. It refines suggestions made at the Economic Summit in 1993 and the Carper administration's 1999 strategies for managing growth.
The recommendations are not radical, but rather carefully crafted guidelines and suggestions intended to clarify and bring sharper focus on what has gone before.
Economic growth is more than development
The state's economy will only grow and improve if its workforce is strong and able.
In Delaware, too many people aren't working because they lack the skills needed to produce in the modern world of technology. But beyond the need for education (studied by another subcommittee) there are state and federal regulations and limitations that make it difficult for some people to find and keep jobs.
The committee studying the workplace recognized the need for coordination between the public and private sectors to eliminate barriers and to strengthen links between educational institutions and the world of work. It further calls for realistic land use regulations that do not frighten away potential employers.
The education study group enumerated the most radical challenges. Building upon the recent education reform laws the group calls for dramatic changes in how schools are organized and how decisions are made. It insists that all involved in education be held accountable.
And, most important, it demands that salaries for competent educators be significantly increased. This may surprise some, but it should not. Business interests dominated this whole operation and business executives recognize that good people must be given good pay or they will leave. The state can't afford not to pay its educators well.
The group studying government, again, refined many earlier proposals and gave them focus. Those who have been in Delaware for a while will recognize some of the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Task Force that reported its findings to Gov. du Pont.
It's focus on the need to reduce overlap and to streamline regulatory processes is a cogent reminder that the job of making government user friendly is not nearly complete. It's call for handing over some services to the private sector merely reflects reality in many areas.
Our cities should be the center of culture and commerce. The group studying urban problems found the key to a nurturing process that could breathe life back into downtowns: housing.
It also called for much greater private investment in urban areas - supported by tax incentives, tax rebates and relaxed regulations.
Delawareans have a number of choices
The Delaware Public Policy Institute deserves much credit for this two-year effort to understand the past and plan for the future. Not because the recommendations being presented are guaranteed solutions, but because this report will serve as a guidepost for future growth.
The questions asked and the recommendations proffered focus on the five major areas that are key to economic success.
The institute has demonstrated clearly and effectively that Delawareans have many choices. How Delaware and its leaders make their decisions will determine how well we prosper.
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