SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. — Voters in the Indian River School District turned down a proposed current expense referendum on Thursday, a result that is expected to worsen the district’s ongoing financial strain. Unofficial results showed 6,766 voting against the proposal, compared to 5,700 in favor. The referendum was intended to raise local funding for day-to-day operations, including rising staffing costs and more competitive pay for school employees. Without the new funding, district officials warn that previously enacted cuts may not be enough to close the budget gap. The school district has been operating with a budget deficit for the past two fiscal years.
Officials say operating costs continue to climb, outpacing local revenue. In recent months, the district had already reduced staff and scaled back discretionary spending. The failure of the measure means the administration and Board of Education must now consider further reductions. No decisions have been finalized, and it remains unclear whether another referendum will be proposed in the near future. Indian River School District serves students across a broad section of Sussex County. Thursday’s defeat marks another chapter in a series of funding hurdles the district has faced in recent years.
