On Thursday, voters in the Indian River School District in Sussex County will decide whether to approve an operating referendum raising the tax on an average home more than $200 a year, WDEL reported.
The referendum comes after voters in Smyrna rejected an operating referendum, which is separate from a capital budget referendum used to build or renovate buildings.
Voters in Indian River and elsewhere have been hit by rising inflation and high home prices, making life challenging for working families who somehow cobbled together enough money to buy a home.
Moreover, population growth in Indian River and other Sussex districts has been fueled by. an influx of retirees, many with few community ties, such as grandchildren in school.
One ray of hope is the low property taxes paid in Delaware when compared to New Jersey and portions of Pennsylvania. New residents from those areas interested in public education may be slightly more inclined to vote yes.
Lurking in the background is Delaware's obsolete funding formula, which rewards higher-income districts with higher-performing students who need less help and parents willing to vote yes on bond issues. Changing the formula remains a hot potato for legislators, especially if it socks voters with higher taxes in wealthier school districts.
Yet another emerging issue is federal funding for schools, with the Trump administration vowing to abolish the Department of Education. Federal funding accounts for about 13% of total costs.
Finally, a Chancery Court settlement over tax inequities led to reassessments in all three counties and could produce a windfall in some districts, although others could see property tax hikes.
The state could make taxpayers feel better with a consolidation of school districts on a county level, similar to what we see in Maryland.
The state currently has 30 school districts, with that many superintendents, not to mention other district-wide administrators.
It adds up to an uphill battle for referendum votes, even though Delaware kicks in more state money than many of its neighbors. - Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.