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72 Colonial School District Jobs at Risk in June Vote

colonialk12.de.us

NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) - Colonial School District officials are alerting staffers who could be laid off if voters reject a proposed tax increase in June.

The administration handed out letters Wednesday to 72 staffers - including 58 teachers - who might be affected if voters don't approve a June 4 referendum. Officials say athletics and extracurricular activities would also have to be scaled back.

The school board approved a plan Tuesday to raise $9.6 million to cover personnel costs by increasing taxes to 35 cents per $100 of assessed property value, boosting the average taxpayer's bill by $197 a year. Voters rejected a larger hike in February.

Even with the increase, the district would still have to cut as many as 25 jobs.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.