Florence Dist. 4 budget calls for tax hike

Members of Florence School District 4 Board of Trustees have approved an operating budget of $5.8 million that will result in a millage increase.

The budget calls for 135.1 mills, an increase of 3.2 mills, Florence 4’s finance director Mamie Tedder said.

“Overall, citizens will not see a tax increase in their tax notices. They’ll see a decrease (because debt service mills will drop),” she said.

Budget expenditures total $5,893,375, while revenue totals $5,921,720, Tedder said. That will leave the district with a $28,345 cushion for any future state budget cuts.

The district also has refinanced general obligation bonds from 1998, which is expected to save taxpayers in the Timmonsville-based district more than $167,000.

The budget includes a base student cost of $2,334 and an estimated $245,317 in federal stimulus funds, which helped in getting rid of a $437,805 deficit.

Tedder said the district also was able to save money when it was determined the S.C. Retirement Systems wouldn’t increase the employer’s rate for retirement benefits and the S.C. Employee Insurance Program wouldn’t increase the employer’s share of the insurance premiums.

The district’s finance department has worked to balance the 2009-10 budget by reducing several expenditures in the budget such as substitute teachers’ salaries and eliminating 22 positions at both the district office and school levels.

Throughout the 2008-09 school year, the district has had to absorb $855,582 in state budget cuts and has seen a reduction totaling $653,445 in Education Finance Act funds.

Tedder said the district’s Education Improvement Act funds were reduced as recently as June 18 by $13,875.

In other business, the board approved an additional school uniform choice for students at Johnson Middle School.

Superintendent Dr. Bertha McCants said students will have the option of wearing navy bottoms.

Johnson Middle students wear a solid navy or white shirt, brown belt and khaki bottoms.

For details about school uniforms, call the school at (843) 346-4685.

Also, all school district offices will be closed beginning July 2. Offices will reopen July 13.

On the Web

Florence School District 4, http://www.florence4.k12.sc.us