The department shall publish the result of such referendum and shall thereafter consider and determine whether the continued operation of the district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible. If the department shall determine that the continued operation of such district is administratively practicable and feasible it shall record such determination and deny the petition. If the department shall determine that the continued operation of such district is not administratively practicable and feasible it shall record such determination and shall certify such determination to the commissioners of the district. In making such determination the department shall give due regard and weight to the attitude of the owners and occupiers of lands lying within the district, the number of landowners eligible to vote in such referendum who shall have voted, the proportion of the votes cast in such referendum in favor of the discontinuance of the district to the total number of votes cast, the approximate wealth and income of the landowners and occupiers of the district, the probable expense of carrying on erosion-control operations within the district and such economic and social factors as may be relevant to such determination, having due regard to the legislative findings set forth in § 48-9-20. But the department shall not have authority to determine that the continued operation of the district is administratively practicable and feasible unless at least a majority of the votes cast in the referendum shall have been cast in favor of the continuance of such district.