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Property Taxes |
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Q - When are property tax bills
sent out? |
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A -
Property tax bills are sent out Aug. 1 of every year with the due date being
Sept. 30. A one (1) percent penalty is assessed monthly after this time when no
payment has been received. Quarterly billing is done three (3) other times during the year
when new or updated assessments are received from New Castle County.
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Q - Does my mortgage company receive my tax
bill? |
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A -
The Town of Middletown sends all property tax bills directly to the
homeowner. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to forward the
bill to the mortgage company. |
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Q
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I am 65 or older, is there a
discounted property tax rate for seniors? |
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A
- Yes, if you are 65 years of age or older, you may apply for
the Senior Citizens Discount. You will need to fill out the
appropriate form (Senior Citizens Tax Exempt
Form) and bring it into the Town Office with I.D. You must have
lived in your residence for one year and have turned 65 two weeks before the
July 1 billing, after this the
discount will go into effect for the next tax year's annual billing. If you
are qualified for the discount and move from one home to another in the Town
of Middletown, you must reapply at your new residence for the discount. |
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Q - I am disabled, do I get a discounted
property tax rate? |
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A -
The Town does allow for disability discounts. You must have something
in writing from New Castle County in order to receive this discount. |
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Q - I receive a senior discount for my property
taxes, do I have to apply every year? |
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A -
No. Once you have applied and been approved there is no renewal
necessary. However, if you move residences within the Town of Middletown,
you must reapply using the address of your new residence. |
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Q - What is the tax rate for the Town of
Middletown? |
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A -
The tax rate is $.30 per $100 of New Castle County assessed value. Example:
assessed value 76,000 ÷ 100 = 760 X .30 = $228 |
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Q - I only paid some of my tax bill, will I
still be charged late fees? |
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A -
Yes, as long as any of the base taxes remain unpaid they will
accrue a 1 percent late fee monthly. |
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Utilities (water, sewer, electric, trash) |
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Q - I am renting, how do I put the utilities in
my name? |
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A -
Make sure that the Town has a "passed" rental inspection for the
property. You will need a $150 deposit and to fill out an
application at the Town Office. You must have a picture I.D. with you. Electric and trash are the only utilities to be put in the renter's name,
water and sewer always stay under the owner's name. |
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Q - I just bought a trailer, what do I need to
do? |
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A -
You would need to fill out an application at the Town Office with
appropriate I.D. and give a $150 deposit before the electric is turned on
or switched into your name. Although a rental inspection is not
necessary for trailers, taxes in the previous owner's name must be paid in
full. |
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Q - I just bought a house in Middletown, I
would like to put the utilities in my name. Do I need to come in?
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A -
No. We work with the settlement lawyers in setting up the new
accounts. The new owners should not have to do anything. |
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Q - How much does it cost to set up an electric
account? |
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A -
For renters, there is a $150 deposit for residential and a $400 deposit
for commercial. If you own the property, no deposit is necessary. |
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Q - When are the bills sent out? |
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A -
The bills are sent out on the 15th of every month. |
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Q - When are the bills due? |
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A -
The bills are due on the last business day of the month. |
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Q - How much are late fees and when am I
charged them? |
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A -
Once your bill becomes 7 days past due, a $ 5 late charge will be
assessed and a shutoff notice will be sent out. |
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Q - How can I pay my bill? Do you take
credit/debit cards? |
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A -
You may mail your payment in, drop it in the mailbox located on the median
at the entrance of Town Hall, put it in the payment box inside the
lobby or give it to the cashier for a receipt. We currently
accept debit cards, cash, money orders, checks or cashier checks for payment. Credit cards are not accepted at this time. We
also offer a direct
debit option for those who would like their utility payments debited
directly from checking or savings accounts monthly. This option
requires a preauthorized payment plan form to be filled out and dropped off
or mailed to Town Hall. If you are putting your
payment in a drop box or
sending through the mail, please do not send cash.
PLEASE NOTE: The
town now deposits checks electronically with deposit-on-site software.
Make sure funds are available in your account at the time you make your
payment to the town. |
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Q - Do you take payments over the phone? |
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A -
No, we do not take payments over the phone at this time. |
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Q - At what time does your cashier window
close? |
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A -
The window is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday |
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Q - When is my meter read? |
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A -
Meters are read the first of the month. |
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Q - I never see anyone reading my meter, how
are they getting the readings? |
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A -
We
read meters using a mobile van system and no longer have to walk
house-to-house. |
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Q - Can I make payment arrangements? |
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A -
Yes, payment arrangements may be made in person only at the Town Offices. This cannot be done over the phone.
Residents will have to pay one-third (1/3) of any
past due amount at this time. You are allowed to make two (2) of these
types of arrangements
per calendar year. |
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Q - I see something on my bill that says PPAC,
what is this for? |
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A -
This is a "purchase power adjustment cost." This is a fee the Town of
Middletown collects for wholesale power cost fluctuations which are not
covered in base rates. The fee changes each month based on consumption
by the entire town. This also ensures the customer's continuous service during peak power usage,
avoiding brownouts and blackouts. |
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Q - What is this "customer charge" that's
listed on my bill? |
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A -
This is what we charge the customer for meter reading and maintenance. |
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Q - My bill doesn't look right, who can I talk
to about billing questions? |
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A -
You may call the billing department at (302) 378-2711. |
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Q - Does the Town collect my trash? When
is trash collected? |
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A -
The Town contracts trash collection out to Waste Management. Trash is collected every
Tuesday and Friday, except during certain holidays, where it is a day behind (click
here for trash holidays). To make a trash complaint, call (302) 378-5720. |
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Q - Can I put out bulk objects for trash
pickup, something like a sofa? |
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A -
Large bulk items may be placed out with the normal trash, this includes
refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners. Waste Management will not pick up
batteries, chemicals, oxygen or propane tanks and paint cans with paint in
them. Call (302) 378-5720 with questions. |
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Q - Can I put out
cut grass and tree limbs with my trash? |
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A -
No, these items are not to be put with the regular trash or in trash
bags. The Town collects these items weekly
(Click
here for published schedule). During the holiday season, Christmas
trees are picked up with the yard waste schedule, not the trash. Please leave grass cuttings on curb (not bagged), and tree
limbs (cut into 4' lengths) on curb for pick-up. The schedule is
also located on the "Public Notices" page. |
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Miscellaneous |
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Q - When are Town elections held? |
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A -
Elections are held the first Monday in March. The Mayor and three
Council members are elected on odd numbered years, with the other three council
seats up for election on even years. |
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Q - Do I have to register to vote? |
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A -
No. You must be 18 years old and provide proof of residency in
the Town of Middletown. |
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Q - When are Council meetings held? |
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A -
Council meetings are held the first Monday of the month, at 7:30 p.m., in Council chambers
located in Town Hall. If the first Monday falls on a major holiday, the meeting
will be held the following Monday. |
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Q - Who do I report a broken street light to? |
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A - Please call
Public Works at (302) 378-5720. |
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Q - Who do I call about potholes? |
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A -
If the pothole is located on Del. 299 (Main Street) or Del. 71 (Broad Street) it is
the responsibility of DelDOT. Call (302) 659-2400 to report the problem. In
any other area of town, please contact
our
Streets Foreman at (302) 378-5140. |
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Q - Who do I call about stray dogs? |
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A -
You will need to contact the SPCA at 302) 998-2281, the Delaware Humane Society
at (302) 571-0111 or Animal Control at 1-888-352-7722. |
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Town of Middletown, 19 West Green Street, Middletown, DE 19709