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JUNE 13, 2025
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Voters strike down referendum effort
Volume 22, Issue 24
FREE
Too much sun?
By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter For the second time in just over two months, voters defeated a referendum that would have raised taxes to fund increasing costs for the Indian River School District. The June 5 referendum failed by more than 1,000 votes, with 5,700 voting for the school district’s proposed tax increase and 6,766 voting against it. About 2,000 more voters participated in last week’s referendum than voted in the March 20 effort, with 12,466 votes cast last week and 10,173 in March, when 4,749 voted in favor and 5,424 voted against. District Superintendent Jay Owens said the defeat will force district officials to face some hard realities in the coming months as it struggles to lower expenses while continuing to meet the needs of its more than 10,000 students. The district employs nearly 1,000 teachers and more than 300 paraprofessionals. “With the defeat of the referendum, IRSD’s administration and Board of Education face some difficult decisions in the coming months,” Superintendent Jay Owens said. “The district has been operating at a budget See REFERENDUM page 3
Millville approves development under new zoning category By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter The Millville Town Council voted on Tuesday, June 10 to approve a rezoning request for a small development on Whites Neck Road under a new zoning category for the town. The request, by Foxlane Homes, was to change the zoning for several parcels from R-1 residential to R-2 residential. Millville’s Planning & Zoning Commission had voted 4-1 on May 8 to recommend that the council deny the request. Commissioners Pat Plocek and Tim Roe had expressed concern that such a zoning change would result in increased density in the area. See MILLVILLE page 3
Coastal Point • Darin J. McCann
The Bethany Beach Seaside Craft Show drew all kinds of visitors to town last weekend. This guy was a little camera-shy, but he seemed to enjoy everything happening on the boardwalk.