Milton candidates set for March 1 election

Milton voters will head to the polls Saturday, March 1, to make their choices for mayor and two town council seats.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Milton fire hall. Voters will choose between incumbent Mayor John Collier and Vice Mayor Lee Revis-Plank for the mayor’s seat, and among incumbent Councilman Tom Arkinson, Robert Gray and Alan Pongratz for two council seats. 

The winning candidates will serve three-year terms and will be sworn in in April. Each candidate was asked four questions with responses below.

How old are you and why did you decide to run?

Collier: I will be 71 years old in April. I am seeking re-election to continue the work begun during my first term. I wish to continue to follow the CARES planning process, creating a Community that remains Affordable, Resilient, Economically stable and Safe.

Revis-Plank: I am 76 years old and I wonder why my age is of interest! I decided to run for office to ensure that the people of Milton have a voice in their government. If we don’t have at least two candidates, there is no election. If there is no election, then we have no votes. If we have no votes, then we don’t have a voice in our local government. Democracy works well when people step up to the plate and run for office, especially in these local campaigns where all candidates are volunteers. You want the best for your hometown and you’re willing to participate actively to ensure that the best is yet to come! I waited to see if there were candidates other than the current mayor. When no one else stepped up to the plate, I volunteered to ensure that voters can choose and have a vote in local government.

Arkinson: I am 74 years of age. I decided to run to continue serving in the council position that I currently hold. I have served for one-and-a-half years and have learned about the intricacies of municipal government and municipal governance, and if re-elected, I will hit the ground running from the moment I am sworn in. I realize in my time on the council, that with my previous experiences as a teacher and my work with various nonprofit community organizations, I do bring to the table the skills, along with an objective and reasonable point of view, to get the job done. I don’t have an axe to grind or an agenda to push, just the desire to do the best for Milton and its people.

Pongratz: I am 63 years old. I want to bring a fresh voice to council. Not that I necessarily disagree with the current council, but I would like to bring a different perspective to the table.

Gray: I am 72 years old. Milton is now my hometown. I moved here because I was drawn to its small-town charm and quaint but upbeat atmosphere. In the past five years since living here, I have observed the pressing issues the town faces in response to rapid development and population growth. Community and public service have always been important in my life. I believe my past and current experience in serving my community gives me the tools to help navigate the town through those issues, and help maintain the qualities that make Milton so special.

If elected, what issue would you want to see addressed by council first? Why?

Collier: 

• Complete the funded water system improvements identified in 2008, supported by the American Rescue Plan Act and Delaware Water State Revolving Fund 

• Implement a comprehensive maintenance program for the water system, roads and grounds to extend their useful lives by five to 15 years
• Address traffic concerns through an already-funded engineering study, as required by Delaware Code
• Begin the comprehensive planning process while striving to improve zoning ordinances, with a rewrite due in 2028
• Focus on resiliency against flooding and sea-level rise. Complete transition to strategic budgeting for infrastructure. Pursue federal and state funding to reduce taxpayer burden
• The reasons are obvious: CARES

Revis-Plank: The first issue that comes to mind is the need to revisit and revise our town code and comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan must be revised every 10 years, and it is time to get that process started. It provides a vision for the future, and we need to be clear about the vision we have for the future of the town. We need revised code that puts guardrails around continued annexation and rampant development in a way that ensures infrastructure is in development concurrently with housing. By that I mean both the physical infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, etc., as well as the commercial, medical, school, grocery stores and professional services people need to access. We need to place the onus of expansion costs on the entities that most benefit from development so current taxpayers are not supporting new developments through annual tax increases. We need to ensure that we actively support ways and means to provide housing that is affordable and maintainable by the average working family. We have an opportunity to lead the way in Milton, and I support a focus on this initiative.

Arkinson: If elected, I would like for council to continue to make the ongoing changes to the town’s fiscal policies a priority. Council has made and passed policy decisions that put the town on the path to a strong financial footing. I would like to see council, along with input from experts in municipal finance, set policy and procedures for the use of reserve funds that will become available. I am envisioning parameters that allow for flexibility but preserve the intent of the policy, which is to have adequate reserves. Funding is at the core of so many of our initiatives, and careful planning and guidance for its use are essential.

Pongratz: I am not sure I can point out one singular thing. Some of my concerns are already in discussion, which if elected, I would have further insight and the ability to discuss/debate.

Gray: If elected, the immediate issue the town needs to address is its ongoing financial situation. The budgetary documents upon which the town based its 2025 budget shows the town has a structural deficit, and if nothing changes in terms of increased revenue or decreased expenses, the town will soon use up its accumulated surplus and large deficits will accrue in the out years.

With McDonald’s, Royal Farms, Dairy Queen and Dunkin Donuts all having either been built or applied to be built on Route 16, do you think it’s a good or bad thing for national franchises like that to be in Milton?

Collier: The 2018 comprehensive plan identifies Route 16 as a commercial corridor appropriate for franchise businesses, regulated by additional regulations § 220-55 and §220-56. Until the zoning codes are re-evaluated and rewritten, the town must act according to its code. The Route 16 corridor is the only major corridor with commercial zoning under the Town of Milton authority.

Revis-Plank: Milton will always benefit from a mixture of commercial enterprises. But, as a follow-up to the previous question, we need to develop code that defines the various types of commercial enterprises that we welcome into town and where these commercial entities would best benefit the townspeople. Without specific guidelines in town code, any commercial enterprise must be approved when they express interest in establishing a presence in a commercial-zoned area. We need to develop a layered commercial zone approach. For example, a C-1 zone would be reserved for the most important commercial enterprise for the majority of the population, perhaps a grocery store. A C-2 zone would be for the next most important type of commercial enterprise. For example, doctors, lawyers, dentists or other medical facility. And so on.

Arkinson: With regard to national franchise restaurants and fast food establishments making a presence in Milton, this is not in itself a bad thing for Milton as long as they are appropriately situated and comply with the zoning codes. They provide a product and service that many residents want. I realize that other residents and visitors enjoy locally owned establishments and like the unique character they provide. Ultimately, it is up to the consumers to support the businesses of their choice. It would be an appropriate consideration to review zoning changes that would allow small businesses in certain areas not currently zoned commercial if it was clear that there would be no negative impacts.

Pongratz: We can all agree that zoning dictates what can and cannot be approved by council. I prefer to keep them on the Route 16 corridor farther away from downtown. We can work on zoning ordinances that would steer in this direction. In the meantime, I encourage the residents to support the local businesses so that these franchises do not take away from them.

Gray: The way the current zoning in Milton exists, if a business desires to do business in the town and that business meets all of the site-plan requirements for a particular zone, the town may not deny that company the right to operate, whether or not it is good or bad, as your question suggests. After the comprehensive plan is revised in the next several years, the town will alter its zoning ordinance to restructure the types of businesses that can come into the Route 16 corridor in the future. The comprehensive plan rewrite is the key as to how the residents of Milton want to see the town develop and look like for the next decade.

As Milton grows, so will the need for new revenue to pay for physical and human infrastructure (police, administration, public works). What ways do you support to raise that revenue?

Collier: New infrastructure is an expense borne by the developer. They install the water system and road infrastructure at their expense. Upon satisfactory completion, these assets are dedicated to the town. The town accepts the dedication provided the infrastructure meets the town’s specifications. This process allows the time to save and plan for their maintenance in the future. Funds for this come from several revenue sources

Revenue sources include:

• Real estate transfer tax of 1.5% for capital improvements and public safety
• Community enhancement and emergency services impact fees for new growth
• Impact fees for connecting to the public water system
• Building permit fees to support operating budgets
• Property taxes based on land and improvement assessments for operational costs.

Properly planned and managed, these sources should carry the town forward with minimal, if any, burden on the taxpayers.

Revis-Plank: Milton’s revenue stream includes property taxes, fees, fines, funds from state-level sources and grants, to name the most common sources. In my mind, those services that are provided widely across the whole population of the town should be supported by the revenue stream that includes the whole population of the town. That means property taxes. I authored the change to town code that focuses an annual increase to property taxes that aligns with two readily available indices and ensures the revenue stream takes into account the annual cost of living increase. No big surprises … just enough to tread water, so to speak. Services rendered to specific individuals or small groups of individuals at their request or need should be paid for by those requesting or needing the services. These are fee-based. We need to compare our fee schedule with those in other Sussex County towns and revise it to ensure the fees are commensurate with the amount of time and effort to provide the service being rendered, and with similar fees in other towns. We need to control expenses: Study the expense streams, ensure we hold the line on increases and cut costs where possible to ensure a balanced budget. Both revenues and expenses need to be constantly adjusted in order to attain and maintain a financially stable town.

Arkinson: Milton is growing, and the need for new revenue to fund additional infrastructure and staffing is on the horizon. Long-range planning for these expenses needs to be happening. It is council’s responsibility to guide and support the administration in doing this. We are fortunate to have an excellent staff who have the skills to do this and, when need be, seek outside expert assistance. This past year, a budget was drafted in which the real estate transfer tax was dedicated to reserves and not used to fund operations. Going forward, these funds will be used for capital infrastructure projects; basically paying it forward for infrastructure needs instead of playing catch-up. We also need to continue the great work that is being done in finding other sources of revenue whenever possible. It is important to note that in 2024, 39% of the budget was from property taxes. The rest came from fees, permits, fines and grants. It is obvious the hard work of staff and council members pays off in this regard. This is a work in progress, and it’s important to have continuity completing and implementing these strategies as we move forward.

Pongratz: I recognize we have enjoyed a low tax structure for some time. However, maintaining our day-to-day business process and having to dip into reserves is a concern. With our current economy, I prefer small, incremental tax increases over time to continue to support the need for our town’s existing and growing services. 

Gray: The town will need new revenues in the future whether or not the town grows. Residential development does not pay for itself, so a concentrated effort needs to be undertaken to encourage new, clean commercial development in the town center (while preserving its historical nature and ambiance), along Route 16 and in any future annexation area. The town needs an adequate public facilities ordinance to manage growth while the town develops. We also need to look at impact fees for new development. Increased sources of revenue are only one half of the equation. The town needs to look at the expense side of the budget and to use the taxpayers’ money wisely.