District gets nearly $2M tax windfall
MONCKS CORNER — The Berkeley County School Board received some good news Tuesday that will help make statewide cuts a little less painful.
Finance Director Brantley Thomas said the district this month received nearly $2 million more in 2007-08 sales tax money from the state Department of Revenue than it expected. Thomas said the windfall means the district won't have to use a $1.7 million surplus from the 2007-08 budget to balance this year's $192 million budget, as it had planned.
Instead the county can apply that $1.7 million toward its reserves and use the windfall toward this year's budget, leaving it about $400,000 in the black.
Thomas said the district will also receive about $1 million in savings from the state as a result of the state paying for one month's worth of employer contributions toward state health and dental insurance.
"A combination of these things really help us out with the budget cuts we're about to embark on for '08-'09," Thomas said.
The bad news is that the district will be on the hook for at least $1.99 million in budget cuts this year. Thomas said he expects that number to double in the next week, and that doesn't include rumblings in Columbia about yet another round of cuts. The Budget and Control Board recently agreed to cut the budget for all state agencies by 3 percent because of a shortfall in state revenues.
Thomas said the board will have to decide on how it's going to account for some of the cuts. He said the board may decide to use some of its reserves, cut open positions or even look at a tax increase.
In other news, 12 candidates have filed for five school board seats. There will be at least two new school board members next year because Jerry Prosser in District 1 and Carolyn Lewis in District 3 are not running for re-election.
Kent Murray of Hanahan is running unopposed for the District 1 seat.
Jackie D. Tillman, Phillip Obie II, and Norman L. Kinsey, all of Goose Creek, are running for the District 3 seat.
In District 5, incumbent Jim Royce of Ladson faces opposition from Kathy Schwalbe and Gayla McSwain, both of Goose Creek.
Winston D. Williams of St. Stephen is running against District 7 incumbent Wilhelmina Moore, who lives in Pineville.
District 9 incumbent Donna Marino faces opposition from Zonda Powell and Bob Stukes. All three candidates live in Moncks Corner.
Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by timeismoney50 on August 27, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is interesting list of candidates. District 3 is of particular interest to me.
We have 3 candidates one of which is a 26 year old immature kid. This would be Phillip Obie II, who has no children not married and has not ever been involved in public education since his high school graduation. Can somebody say puppet?? Doesn’t take a scholar to figure out why he’s running.
Posted by scfirefly on August 27, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you're right. My understanding is that he was recruited by the dark side.
Posted by lou9 on August 27, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reelect Jim Royce! He is the only one on the board looking out for the taxpayers.
Posted by oldglory on August 27, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, the powers that be borrowed money using an ARM that's costing the taxpayers. And now there is a 'windfall' that the the school board somehow couldn't see coming??
Give me a break. Where do these people train for these positions? Ergo, 1 + 1 = 2, people!
Posted by scfirefly on August 27, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No thanks Lou9. Berkeley county's families have suffered long enough. Royce's reign of error will soon be over.
Posted by lou9 on August 27, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
scfirefly- Royce doesn't mind spending money where it's needed, he's just not one of Floyd's puppets. He hsa the guts to question wasteful spending.
Posted by scfirefly on August 27, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In his mind, ALL spending is wasteful. If he had a majority, he wouldn't just be questioning, he would be doing much more damage.
We need to hire Floyd's replacement now. God help us if Royce is in charge! For starters, what candidate worth a damn would accept the job!
Posted by timeismoney50 on August 27, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I could be mistaken but it does cost money (taxpayer money) to have a successful public education system. If all these bozos takeover you can forget about education. I pay taxes just like everybody else and I realize funding education is not cheap but I'd rather have a educated society that cost money then not. Royce, Hinson and Hardesty the three stooges that vote "NO" to everything want to add to their power by whatever means possible.