That was 18 years ago.
It has been renewed by voters three times and currently generates $3.13 million a year for the school system. But much has changed since 2003, and Marlington officials say there is a dire need for more money.
The situation is dividing the community.
A political action committee called Marlington Forward recently purchased advertising space in the Alliance Review criticizing three of the five Board of Education members.
Marlington Forward takes a critical view of some decisions. Reopening Marlboro Elementary, according to Marlington Forward, put a financial burden of more than $2 million on the district.
"They are supposed to make decisions to the benefit of the entire district," said Juli Hallman, treasurer for Marlington Forward. "So far I haven't seen any evidence of that since they took over. The only thing they care about is the building of Marlboro. We try to educate the community as to what is going on. And we try to do whatever we can to keep the school district moving in the right direction."