Integrity and results matter.

As County Executive, Chris Coons is working hard to make New Castle County a better place to live, today and for the future. Here are just a few of the county accomplishments under Chris’ leadership over the past four years.

Leading the fight for long term fiscal reform

• Introduced a zero growth budget proposal for FY2008 that proposed more than $14 million in spending cuts and more than $72 million in capital improvement cuts
• Earned a AAA bond rating – the highest possible – from the nation’s three top rating agencies, based on the strength of the county’s financial planning

Keeping our communities safe

• Launched a new Safe Streets partnership with the state parole office, leading to hundreds of checks on repeat violent probationers, dozens of arrests for violations and new criminal activity and confiscation of drugs, money and weapons
• Constructed a new, state of the art Public Safety Building with a high-tech 911 call center and centralized space for police, paramedics, emergency management and the volunteer fire service
• Launched the Emergency Services Corps program to increase recruitment for the volunteer fire service.

Revitalizing our neighborhoods

• Cleaned up the county’s 50 worst properties over two years through the award-winning Problem Properties Task Force
• Improved code enforcement by hiring new housing code enforcement officers and implementing the county’s first rental housing code inspection program
• Passed redevelopment ordinances that have led to more than 1.3 million square feet in redevelopment projects
• Partnered with the Delaware AARP to expand the senior home repair program, allowing more seniors to stay in their homes and strengthening the relationship between the county and AARP
• Established the Housing Incentive Program to encourage home ownership and home repair in targeted communities

Improving community services for families

• Opened the new Woodlawn Library offering a Spanish language section, family literacy programs and public computer access
• Increased access to community activity center programs, including adding a new location in Middletown and expanded offerings at the Garfield PAL
• Expanded the Hockessin Library to include a dedicated section for teens, more computers and an expanded children’s section
• Relocated the Appoquinimink Community Library near downtown Middletown with additional computer resources and offerings for children
• Completed the first phase of construction of the Glasgow RegionalPark, which includes multi-use trails, playgrounds, pavilions, and a sledding hill

Modernizing our county’s aging infrastructure 

• Commenced construction of the new sewer system for Southern New Castle County, the first county-financed and constructed sewer system in Delaware
• Rehabilitated or repaired more than 50 existing stormwater ponds and systems in neighborhoods throughout the county