WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney released the following statement on his first 100 days in office:

“During my first several months in office, I have traveled across our state, meeting with Delawareans from Claymont to Laurel, and everywhere in between. We have discussed our budget challenges, ways to create jobs and grow Delaware’s economy, improve public education, and protect our environment. We face challenges as a state, but I am more confident than ever that we will get through them together, and keep Delaware a welcoming place for everyone to live, work and raise a family. Thank you to all Delawareans who are engaging on these issues. I look forward to continuing our work together.”

Below are details on several of Governor Carney’s priorities, and ongoing initiatives, as he continues his first year in office.

Delawareans can visit de.gov/ideas to contact Governor Carney and offer their ideas for moving Delaware forward.

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BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL PLAN

Governor Carney has traveled the state, holding Budget Reset Community Conversations to discuss the state’s budget challenges alongside members of the General Assembly, and to gather ideas from members of the public. Since January, Governor Carney has held more than a dozen Conversations in restaurants, coffee shops and town hall settings, hosted by more than two dozen legislators.

In March, the Governor submitted a balanced, long-term financial plan to bridge a $400 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2018, and put Delaware on a more sustainable path forward. The Governor’s budget relies on an equal mix of cuts and new revenue, and continues to make investments in education, healthcare and other services crucial to the welfare of Delawareans.

More details: de.gov/budgetreset

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Executive Order #4 established the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Board (G.E.A.R.) to identify opportunities for cost savings in state government, and to establish practices for continuous improvement. In conjunction with that order, the G.E.A.R. Board held their first meeting on March 24, 2017. On May 1st, the Director of OMB and the Secretary of Finance provided preliminary recommendations to the Governor for further review with the JFC in preparing the 2018 budget.

More details: de.gov/gear

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Delaware’s Triple-A credit rating was re-affirmed by Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, for the 17th year in a row. The Triple-A rating translates to reduced interest costs for Delaware, allowing the state to fund capital projects at the lowest available interest rates.

Some of the projects to be funded with the proceeds of Delaware’s bond sales will include a new elementary school in the Laurel School District, renovations in the Red Clay, Lake Forest, Cape Henlopen, Smyrna, Caesar Rodney and Brandywine school districts as well as public library construction and renovations at Garfield Park, Lewes, Delmar, Selbyville, Harrington and Duck Creek.

More details: de.gov/rating

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Governor Carney signed into law a critical piece of legislation, Senate Bill 13, that provides a comprehensive rewrite of Delaware’s unclaimed property laws. In an effort to align Delaware’s laws with other states, S.B. 13 retooled all aspects of unclaimed property examinations, voluntary disclosure agreements (VDAs), and compliance.

More details: de.gov/law

TRANSITIONING DELAWARE’S ECONOMY

On his first full day in office, Governor Carney signed Executive Order #1, creating the Economic Development Working Group to study a public-private economic development partnership that will help Delaware support innovation, entrepreneurs, and prepare Delaware’s workforce for success in the 21st century economy. The Working Group has submitted recommendations for implementing a partnership, and Governor Carney will work with the General Assembly to explore a path forward.

Exploring a new economic development model was an Action Plan recommendation.

More details: de.gov/dedoreport

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Earlier this month, Governor John Carney announced the creation of the Delaware Innovation Space, Inc. – a nonprofit public-private partnership established by the State of Delaware, DuPont, and the University of Delaware that will catalyze the entrepreneurial growth of new science-based businesses and ventures in Delaware.

The Delaware Innovation Space will focus on key Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas that align with strengths both DuPont and UD bring to the venture. They include industrial biotechnology, renewable energy, advanced materials, chemical ingredients, nutrition and healthcare to help strengthen Delaware’s presence as a leader in those areas.

It also will provide education to entrepreneurs and startups, help accelerate the formation of new businesses, and connect Delaware’s students with the work of innovators and entrepreneurs.

More details: deinnovates.org/

STANDING UP FOR ALL DELAWAREANS

Governor Carney – in one of his first official acts in office – re-established the Family Services Cabinet Council to coordinate services for Delaware youth and families. Reestablishment of the Family Services Cabinet Council was an Action Plan recommendation.

Delaware families continue to face significant challenges – including the high cost of child care; violence and poverty in their neighborhoods; the impact of caring for an aging family member; and the challenges of navigating an economy in transition. The Family Services Cabinet Council, which the Governor is chairing, is charged with coordinating public and private services that are often fragmented, and proposing changes to current programs to make the delivery of state services more effective.

More details: de.gov/council
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Delaware’s Office of Management and Budget created a single anti-discrimination policy across state government, the result of Governor Carney signing Executive Order #6.

Adoption of the uniform policy, an Action Plan recommendation, will allow state agencies to consistently respond to reports of discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace. The policy also clearly outlines a consistent policy for state employees to report and resolve complaints of discrimination.

More details: de.gov/order

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The Governor signed off on the state’s Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, the result of months of collaboration with educators, community members, advocates and other stakeholders across the state. The plan articulates Delaware’s commitment to closing the achievement gap, and ensuring all students are prepared for college and/or the career of their choosing.

More details: de.gov/essa

ADDRESSING SECURITY IN DELAWARE’S PRISONS

Governor Carney has launched an Independent Review of the February 1 hostage incident at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. Former U.S. Attorney Charles M. Oberly III and retired Judge William L. Chapman, Jr. are reviewing the causes of the incident and will report back to Governor Carney by June 1 with findings and actionable recommendations to address security of the Delaware correctional facility.

More details: de.gov/review

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Governor Carney has taken important initial steps to address security risks for employees and inmates at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, and across Delaware’s correctional system, following the February 1 hostage incident. The Governor has authorized an investment of $340,800 in new security and communications equipment to help officers respond to and prevent violent incidents. In his financial plan, Governor Carney has proposed to add 50 officers at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, raise hazardous duty pay for correctional officers, and invest another $1.3 million in equipment and training.

More details: de.gov/steps

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