GEORGETOWN, Del. - The Indian River School District is going to referendum again after it failed the first time in March.
Indian River School District's Grant Writer and Public Relations Specialist, David Maull, told CoastTV Wednesday morning that, "the Board of Education voted on Monday evening to host a second current expense referendum on June 5. We're still working out the details in regards to the actual tax increase and the impact to the average taxpayer. Now that we're further along in the property reassessment process, these figures may be adjusted slightly from what we publicized in the first referendum. We also still need to work with the Department of Elections on polling places, absentee ballot procedures, etc."
IRSD Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens says the current expense referendum is asking people to increase property taxes to fund an increase in operating costs and to fund the retention and future hiring of staff.
It failed on Thursday, March 20. Now they are back in front of the voters again asking for their help.
"I really don't agree with increasing people's taxes," said Terrance McCray who lives just a short walk away form the Georgetown Middle School.
4,749 people voted in favor of the referendum, but those votes could not overcome the 5,424 people who voted against it. In total, there were 10,173 votes. The referendum failed by 675 votes.
"If it was your own child, you'd want it to be the best education for them," said Jean Watson, a former art teacher who worked for the district for 31 years.
While McCray says he supports children's education, he feels the district needs to find a way to get their funding.
"I mean, the state, they should be doing a little more on their behalf."
Watson feels when it comes to education, districts get out what they put in.
"I think it's very important to help our future out."
With news of a former principal within the district charged in a $15,000 forgery and theft case, people like McCray are more hesitant than ever to vote for something that he says will hit them where it hurts most.
"I don't think that everybody should have their taxes raised when there was corruption inside the schools."
As everyone in the Indian River School District head toward the next vote, voters will have to weigh personal costs against educational futures plus how a recent scandal factors into all of it.
The next referendum will be held on Thursday, June 5.