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Amount of Tax Increase in School District 4 Still Unknown

Posted on: Friday, 23 June 2006, 00:00 CDT

By Lee Hendren, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.

Jun. 22--COPE -- The Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4 Board of Trustees has approved a $25.9 million budget for 2006-07.

The 41-page spending plan is 2.28 percent higher than the previous fiscal year's, primarily due to increased costs related to personnel.

"We're anticipating a 3 percent raise for all of our employees," Dr. Darrell Johnson, superintendent, said Tuesday.

"It looks like we passed a budget that we can work with," Chairman Aaron Rudd said, adding that he is "99 percent sure it will" require an increase in the property tax rate.

Johnson said that it's difficult to predict the amount of the increase, "because you know we're still waiting for the distribution of the state budget."

"So we're really waiting on seeing that. And then we'll have a better handle on it as we get more information about what our money really will look like," Johnson said.

The state Legislature has designated 2006-07 as the baseline year for state funding when the property tax on owner-occupied residences is eliminated. If the district does not maximize its local revenues this year, it will be locked into a lower rate of state reimbursement for years to come. Both Johnson and Rudd said that was a concern.

No one spoke at a public hearing on the budget, or during the regular public comment time, Rudd said.

Dr. Shirlan M. Jenkins, assistant superintendent for instructional and educational programs, gave a report on student performance on End of Course tests. District-wide pass rates are as follows:

--Algebra I/Math for the Technologies II: 60 percent.

--English I: 62 percent.

--Physical science: 32 percent.

--Biology: 50 percent.

Pass rates generally improved over last year. Notable exceptions were Algebra at Edisto High and English and Biology at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High.

Trustees gave first reading to two policy revisions pertaining to professional and support staff vacation and holidays.

The revisions would cap leave at 45 days, which is in line with the policies at the county's other two school districts, Johnson said.

"The policies we are putting in place now will be fiscally responsible and not impact anyone that's presently TERI-ing," Johnson said, referring to a delayed-retirement program.

"If they have leave on the books, they will be able to buy that back," Johnson said. "It is for people after Aug. 1."

"TERI folks get 10 new days (leave) but their previous accrued leave has been paid out, so they don't get it over again," he said.

"We're not taking anything away," Johnson said. "Those who have decided to TERI are grandfathered in. They will be paid off. What I really want to do is give them plenty of notice."

In brief:

--Finance Director Tom Ashley said 2005-06 revenues are $314,000 less than the amount received at this point the previous year.

--Trustees approved a trip by two Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School students to a week-long leadership camp in Myrtle Beach next month.

--Work on the gym floors at Branchville and Edisto should be complete.

Final inspection on the Edisto High addition is scheduled for July 11.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, South Carolina

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