Indian River tries again for tax increase

For the second time in three months, Indian River School District residents will decide whether to approve a tax increase to pay for school operating expenses.

On Thursday, March 2, district officials are again asking residents to pass a $7.35 million referendum to pay for more teachers, better security and student resources. Residents rejected the same proposal Nov. 22 by 20 votes.

Interim Superintendent Mark Steele, appointed when Susan Bunting was named secretary of education for the Carney administration, echoed Bunting's November statements that increasing student enrollment has strained the district budget.

“As enrollment grows, revenues are unable to keep up with the increasing costs of educating our children,” Steele said.

The district is proposing a tax increase of 49 cents per $100 of assessed property value – about $95 a year more for the average property owner. Of the $7.35 million total, he said, $4.9 million would be used to hire more teachers and paraprofessionals, and fund the purchase of additional supplies, materials and furniture to accommodate new students.

Steele said $1.2 million would be used to improve school safety, and another $1.2 million would go toward student services and support.

A state auditor's report released five days before the November referendum detailed more than $100,000 in misspent funds by Patrick Miller, the district's former financial officer.

A follow-up issued Feb. 27 by Auditor R. Thomas Wagner summarized improvements the district has made in its policies and procedures.

Overall, the report noted, the district has made more than a dozen changes including payroll processing, a nepotism policy and direct reimbursements.

Referendum voting will be held 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at East Millsboro Elementary, Georgetown Elementary, Indian River High School, Long Neck Elementary, Lord Baltimore Elementary and Selbyville Middle School.

Residents of the Indian River School District who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age are eligible to vote; proof of identification or residency is required at each polling place. Residents do not have to be property owners or registered to vote.

Acceptable proofs of identity, name and address include State of Delaware driver’s license, recent utility bill or any other reasonable document that identifies the person’s address.

If the referendum is postponed due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled for Thursday, March 16.