Budget crunch bears down on Charleston
School bus replacement plan to get less funding this year
COLUMBIA — After the latest wrangling over the proposed $7 billion state budget, Charleston schools stand to regain an estimated $5 million to make up for a funding formula that systematically punishes them.
Details were sorted out Wednesday in a late-night Senate session that pitted Charleston-area legislators against some counterparts in a battle of political will.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, and Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, helped forge a compromise at about 11 p.m. Wednesday that will allow the Charleston County school district to make up half of its projected $10.4 million deficit in the upcoming budget year.
The state gives less money to districts as their taxpaying ability increases, and in the past, lawmakers have passed one-time provisions to prevent Charleston County school district from losing any money.
Economic downturns, though, had the senators squabbling for hours.
"Whether these senators like Charleston or not, the fact is that Charleston produces a lot of revenue for this state," McConnell said.
"He (Ford) and I will defend Charleston with every bit of power we have on the Senate floor and it is good for Charleston that he and I have the seniority that we have to do it, because it took some of that."
Receiving the $5 million is contingent on a balance in a special education fund, which projections show is likely. McConnell said he also plans to work with the House to shore up the rest of the deficit.
The budget will be sent back to the House and ultimately will end up in conference committee to draft a final version that must also be scrutinized by the governor.
If the district doesn't receive that $10.4 million, "it would definitely mean pretty radical cuts in either personnel or services," said schools Superintendent Nancy McGinley.
Even if the district receives half of the $10.4 million, schools would be treading water for another year rather than expanding needed academic programs, such as pre-kindergarten classes, she said.
Funding for the second year of a 15-year school bus replacement cycle got the ax after the Senate cut $240 million from the current and upcoming budgets. Senators noted the state technically will be able to remain on the cycle because of surplus purchases made since 2006.
Donald Tudor, Education Department transportation director, said the agency will be able to buy about 125 buses with $10 million it expects to get. Earlier proposals had set aside about $30 million.
Diette Courrégé contributed to this report. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
This is still unacceptable. Why should Charleston have to suffer when this city and county pumps in so much money to this state? Go to the upstate and see those high schools that look like college campuses. Did those counties put in a fair share of revenue to warrant awarding them so much education monies? Whether they like Charleston or not the fact remains that Charleston is a cash cow for the state and deserves to be treated better.
April 18, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
The federal and state governments mandate certain things that the public schools must have or do. How does a poor county in South Carolina do that? In an effort to head off law suits, the state is simply taking a lesson from the feds and confiscating wealth from one group and giving it to another.
April 18, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Yes,
We may need to be treated better; but essentially we need to start being self sufficient. We have landfill issues and transportation issues. These officials and newspaper staff need to wake up. Has Donald Tutor been down to Florida to check out the Hydrogen Buses they are using down there??? Sounds like the Transportation Director is "directing" these bus funds to the same old bus companies!!!! SCREW Them!! There are machines that turn our trash into hydrogen that would run our school buses. We need reporters and editors like the reporter in this link; Mr John Kass:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news
/columnists/chi-kasscastlefriapr18,1,2110283.column
Start going after these officials ....the future is NOW .. stop planning and redundant IMPACT STUDIES (just Kickbacks anyway). Will a REAL ..LOCAL ..LAWYER..get some GUTS!!! and cut through the CRAP!!!
Come on Tenisha, Diette, and Yvonne.......
April 18, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
http://www.popsci.com/scitech
/article/2007-03/prophet-garbage
http://innovech.wordpress.com/2007
/03/02/bye-bye-landfills-a-yes-from-joseph-longo/
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18826056/
April 18, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Maybe McConnell and Ford can use their "Seniority" to actually solve problems and promote self sufficiency!! Pursue a STATEWIDE build-out of these STARTECH machines and "declare this state a LANDFILL FREE STATE"..using the Hydrogen to power School and City Buses.... BUT .. I guess.. they won't promote self sufficiency!!! Everyone whines about depending on the Middle East or Chavez! We could be a model for the rest of the NATION! I DON"T THINK WE HAVE TO REMIND MR. McCONNELL or MR FORD of CHARLESTON'S HISTORY. Who needs Columbia or DC!!!
Oh well.....
April 18, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ParkCircle4Ever (anonymous) says...
I thought it was a near $30 million deficit CCSD was facing, P & C is saying 10... somebody's math is a little off...
April 18, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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