Darlington County school board discusses budget

DARLINGTON — Members of the Darlington County School District Board of Education discussed the 2008-09 budget and how Act 388, the property tax relief law and rising fuel costs have impacted the district during a budget work session Friday.

The district’s proposed 2008-09 general operating budget totals $76,703,190.

G.C. White, the district’s comptroller, said the district lost $129,000 because of Act 388. The law swapped a 1-cent sales tax for property taxes on owner-occupied homes, meaning owner-occupied residential property is exempted from school operating millage.

The exemption doesn’t include millage imposed for the repayment of general obligation debt, according to the legislation. Taxes still are collected on rental property and automobiles.

White said the district has the option of a 4.56-mill increase, which would total $656,752, to help with Maintenance of Effort. Maintenance of Effort is part of the Education Improvement Act legislation and requires school districts to maintain a level of per pupil funding that matches the level of support provided by the state. By law, the county auditor sets a millage rate that supports the local level of per pupil funding.

If the board approved the millage increase, it would cost someone with a $50,000 rental house an additional $13.68 (includes an assessment rate of 6 percent).

One item that is plaguing not only school districts, but anyone with a vehicle, is the cost of fuel. The budget calls for $85,913 in utility and gasoline increases.

A vendor would no longer honor a bid for gasoline, so the district must allocate enough funds to cover the costs.

White said some vendors won’t agree to a fixed price, but would rather supply credit cards for the district to use to purchase fuel at the price at the pump.

The budget also includes a teacher salary increase of 3.85 percent, which totals $1,530,564. The state requires school districts to give teachers a salary increase, which is determined by the state, each school year. The district also applied that increase to other employees, such as custodians/maintenance/warehouse, secretaries and teacher assistants.

Other items include $87,289 for an increase in the district’s retirement contribution. It increased from 12.56 percent to 12.74 percent.
Workers’ compensation increased 4 percent, to $18,980; and property insurance increased 6 percent, $44,333.

There also is $779,508 for teachers with one year of experience, $40,000 for a parent notification system, $54,000 for a third-grade magnet school teacher with benefits, and $70,000 for a computer technician with benefits.

About 26 positions will be eliminated through attrition and retirement, White said.

During the meeting, Joel Carter of Jumper Carter Sease, presented information on the building project at Brockington Elementary Magnet School and a new gym at Hartsville High School.

Superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight also reviewed the district’s capital plan for 2008 with the board.

The board will have first reading of the budget at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the board/community conference room in the district’s Administrative Annex I, 102 Park St., Darlington.