Referendum for Caesar Rodney School District Fails: Questions to See 27% Increase in Taxes Rejected
On Saturday the Caesar Rodney School District held a public referendum on whether or not to authorize a 27% increase in taxes.
The referendum was organized with the hopes of getting taxpayers to contribute more to fund current operating expenses. In the end, these proposed tax increases were rejected by the electorate.
The referendum was organized into three separate questions – each of them relating to a different part of the proposal. The first measure proposed was authorizing the issuance of bonds, to which 1,184 voters were against and only 663 were for. The second measure, which would have authorized additional taxes to fund current operating expenses, was once again met with resistance by the voters – 1,310 against and 525 in favor. The last measure proposed was also a tax increase to fund current operating expenses, with the results being the same – 1,331 opposed and 524 in support.
The money collected through the referendum would have gone towards providing necessary services throughout the district, including those related to growth according to organizers. This decision to reject the measure was understandably difficult for many, but it does beg the question of what the district should do next to address its needs.
