Dorchester 2 gets $1.8M more
County Council decision will mean tax increase for businesses
By Dave Munday
ST. GEORGE — Dorchester District 2 supporters packed County Council chambers Monday to beg council not to cut the requested schools budget.
They were partially successful. Council amended the proposed budget to kick in an additional $1.8 million, even though it will mean a tax increase for businesses.
Dorchester District 2 Superintendent Joe Pye (left) sought $2.8 million from the county. Dorchester County Councilman Jamie Feltner argued against giving the schools more money.
School officials were asking the county to give $2.8 million more than required by state law. They said they needed the extra money to buy eight more trailers at overcrowded schools and to fund programs to reduce the dropout rate.
"We've been in a hole for years," Superintendent Joe Pye told council Monday. "We're going to fall even further behind. ... Political football is what it's turning out to be, and the children are being caught in the middle."
Council was set to approve a budget without the extra money. At least 200 people filled the room, some sitting double and on the floors, to make their case for more money. Others stood along the walls and more spilled out of the room. A fire official had herded some of them out of the aisles to satisfy the fire code.
Councilman Chris Murphy proposed that council amend the budget to give the schools an additional $1.8 million despite the tax increase for businesses.
"I'm a business owner, and I'm a product of District 2," said Murphy, an attorney. "I'll have to answer to the Chamber (of Commerce) for this. We helped create the growth problem in District 2. I feel it's the right thing to do."
Councilman Jamie Feltner argued against giving the schools more money.
"We are all cutting back," Feltner said. "I'm asking every agency to help during this economic downturn."
A commercial tax increase could drive businesses out of the county at a time when new businesses are needed, Feltner said. The tax increase had not yet been calculated and depends somewhat on the economy.
The amendment passed 4-2, with Feltner and Richard Rosebrock opposed and Willie Davis absent. The amended budget passed 6-0.
Council approved Dorchester District 4's budget request with no discussion, although it also includes a commercial tax increase to raise an additional $9.4 million.
The $40.4 million county operating budget — about the same as last year — does not include a tax increase. But sewer bills will go up $3.10 a month, a 9 percent increase.
The sewer rate increase will pay for upgrading the St. George sewer plant in hopes of attracting new industries near Interstates 26 and 95. Last month, council was considering raising sewer bills $8.60 a month, a 25 percent increase. The lower increase will be accomplished by borrowing money for 25 years instead of seven years.
In other business Monday, council extended the moratorium on new residential developments another four months.
The moratorium targets residential developments of at least 10 units in Dorchester District 2, which includes the Summerville area. It went into effect in December and would have expired June 10 if not extended. Council's vote extends it another 120 days, unless repealed earlier.
After a public hearing that drew only one brief comment in favor, council voted 4-2 to extend the moratorium. Councilmen Murphy and Mike Murphree voted no.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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myheartwillgoon (anonymous) says...
Did Jamie Feltner forget Joe Pye got him elected? Joe Pye made a handful of phone calls in support of Jamie after Skip Elliot delayed action on the school budget two years ago, and gave Jamie the four-vote margin. But, no, power has gone to Jamie's head and he thinks he's invinceable. A Bill Hearn victory, a week from today, will show him he's not. Upset with last night's vote? Then, tell Fred Luxmore we don't want another person drinking the Jamie Feltner kool-aid. Fred Luxmore will help Jamie Feltner destory Summerville's public schools.
June 3, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
My wife is a teacher in Dorchester County and was at the meeting last night and she could not get over how much of a jerk Jamie Feltner was. Mr. Feltner was very runde and made several brash comments towards the teachers. Hopefully, this will not be forgotten the next time he comes around asking to be relected.
Does Feltner have childeren? If so do the
June 3, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
redman1959 (anonymous) says...
Power went to his head the moment he sat down on his chair. I have NEVER seen a councilperson act so smug and assured and arrogant EVER. I look forward to having Bill in office again.
June 3, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Floger76 (anonymous) says...
Feltner, and the Bosch gang is very good at complaining about overcrowded roads and schools, but they are not willing to help ease these situations. "A commercial tax increase could drive businesses out of the county at a time when new businesses are needed, Feltner said." I wonder if Bosch is against this pending increase in business taxes.
June 3, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
svilletruthhurts (anonymous) says...
feltner's kids go to private school, so he may actually relish his destruction of public schools. May he and Fred Luxmore be taking kick backs from Bosch to keep their taxes lower?
June 3, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
svilletruthhurts (anonymous) says...
feltner's kids go to private school, no wonder he's destroying public schools.
June 3, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bushnell (anonymous) says...
This exemplifies why we need the school board involved with projecting impacts of large developments on our community. If we had this in place, then Joe Pye could have said 8 years ago, that the district would be needing X amount of money to keep up with our growth. Then the builders could have helped pay this. Seems to me that most builders were from out of state and now they are gone, along with our money.
June 3, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jkjb3 (anonymous) says...
Way to go, Murph!
June 3, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
What's the problem? Feltner and Rosebrock did vote against the extra money. Once the extra money passed, they all voted for the budget. No harm, no foul. Bosch is big, but the taxpayers of DSD2 still have the bigger payroll. Taxes ought to be raised and spent in the school district until the school district says it's enough. Residents and businesses must come to realize that nothing is too much for the children. Hand over the money and shut up.
June 3, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
Real Estate professionials on our county council helping their industry, Big business professionals helping out their industry on council, rich guys that dont even support our own county run schools on council....most citizens are just regular people without these agendas. Why are we voting in the wrong kind of people in these important positions? Are regular people not running? We citzens of Dorchester County need to wake up before all these $$$ councilmen make this place not such a nice place to live.
June 3, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
All of you bleeding heart school people have just ruined my lunch. We need a new school board in November followed by a school supterintendent that realizes you "can't get blood from a turnip". We're in an economic downturn folks. What about "economic downturn" don't you understand? By the way, Mr. Feltner will not be defeated if he continues to be "the voice of people" of district 2. You liberals can take that to the bank!
June 3, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Fitzi31 (anonymous) says...
I was at the meeting last night and disappointed to hear that our council doesn't think that the schools need the money. I have to wonder how many of them have walked in our schools and spent a day in a classroom. If they truely saw what Dorchester District 2 teachers do every day in every classroom, under the leadership of Joe Pye they would throw double that $2.8 million at DD2S. Mr. Feltner is entitled to his point as are all the members of the council. The gentleman that was accused of threatening the council by saying "they should be ashamed of themselves" was equally on point and entitled to his opinion. The people of Dorchester County value their public schools and will vote to show that support in the upcoming election. Your small businesses need employees and qualified buyers you don't get that in poor schools. I would like to see your wonderful private schools educate this many kids on the money we have clawed from your grasp. I am a bleeding heart liberal and proud of it if that means a good education for the kids of this community.
June 3, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
Of course Mr. Feltner has not been to one of the schools. There is no need for him too since his daughters go to private school.
Too bad we have to wait until 2010 to get rid of him. I am just glad that I live in his district. Now I can make more of a impact in the next election. Mr. Feltner enjoy the power while you can.
June 3, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LoveDorchester (anonymous) says...
Joe Pye and the Majority of the school board needs to be replaced. How can Joe Pye say, "We've been in a hole for years. We're going to fall even further behind." How can he say that and continue to endorse EVERY CANDIDATE that is associated with the homebuilding industry. If growth of new homes paid for themselves, we would be the richest county in the state and not the one deepest in dept or the poorest. Joe Pye, make up your mind. Decide if you are going to be a physical conservative, or a tax and spend liberal. Because Mr. Feltner is doing exactly what he said he was going to do, and that is look out for the people of Dorchester County. Thank you Mr. Feltner.
June 3, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Carolina Dude(Mr Turner) maybe We can Get Barney Barnes to run again like 1998.(Or Notafan?). Maybe you can make bundles of Moneyof of Character Training on the taxpayers?
June 3, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barrister (anonymous) says...
Love Dorchester,
It's fiscal, not physical.
June 3, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gencon1 (anonymous) says...
Say bye bye to the businesses that you need to provide jobs. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. The businesses will leave and your county will be a ghost town.
What you should be asking is where is all of the money you are already paying for schools going.
Property taxes are the worst form of taxation. As long as you have to pay property taxes, you will never truly own your home.
Stupid liberals, paychecks are for workers.
June 3, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
Thanks Chris,
Barney would be a good candidate as would Lester Dempsey. Also, I'd like to see single member districts as opposed to "at large elections". I'm surprised that the justice dept hasn't challenged the single member system. Didn't Justice challenge at large voting in Charleston County or did I dream it? This would have been around the time that Arthur Ravenel ran w/the "abc team". I seem to recall that at large elections were more likely to guarantee a super majority of caucasion board members. Does anyone recall the exact Justice Dept rationale for opposing at large elections?
June 3, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concernedlocal (anonymous) says...
Just so all you dorchester county tax payers know, Bill Hearn is your big problem. His job is closing on homes in our county. You people never seem to have active brain cells around election time.We need more Jamie Feltner
June 3, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
Correction to my previous post: I'm suprised that Justice hasn't challenged the "at large system".
Posted by carolinadude on June 3, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Chris,
Barney would be a good candidate as would Lester Dempsey. Also, I'd like to see single member districts as opposed to "at large elections". I'm surprised that the justice dept hasn't challenged the at large system. Didn't Justice challenge at large voting in Charleston County or did I dream it? This would have been around the time that Arthur Ravenel ran w/the "abc team". I seem to recall that at large elections were more likely to guarantee a super majority of caucasion board members. Does anyone recall the exact Justice Dept rationale for opposing at large elections?
June 3, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mrsmomofthree (anonymous) says...
I teach in Dorchester 2 and Joe Pye is amazing. He supports the teachers and is very down to earth. Dorchester 2 is one of the best school districts and people should see how the schools are run. We have great administrators and great teachers. We love you Mr. Pye.
June 3, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
mrs.mom of three:
You're absolutely correct! Joe "is amazing" as I've known him very well going back 30+ years. He is supportive of teachers, a good organizer, and a strong Christian person. But from a taxpayer perspective, he's a liberal tax and spend advocate that will never have sufficient funding no matter how much the taxpayers "fork over". It's this mentality which is shared by the majority on the school board which creates the constant rub with taxpayers. On a personal level, they're all very fine people. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
June 3, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LoveDorchester (anonymous) says...
Thank you barrister. I knew that about the spelling, but my fingers didn't on the keyboard. And being honest, I didn't pick it up when I read it either. It's not the first or last typo I've ever made. Back on subject, I too like Mr. Pye very much. However, if his pockets was a wishing well, you could drop coins and money in them and never here them splash. Therefore, you can never fill his coffers with enough money. I think the term bottomless pit comes to mind?
June 3, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
Businesses to face $1.8 million tax:
increasehttp://www.charlestonbusiness.com/dailyjournal/3_159/full-issue.html#12129
What does being a "good Christian" or a "liberal" have to do with this? From a purely objective standpoint, Mr. Pye and (School Board) company do not seem to understand how to effectively plan for the future. While I would have no idea whether there is more fat in the budget, the school board members had to understand that the state-wide tax shift and the alternate financing plan would present funding problems for the district. And while Mr. Feltner seems to be taking a lot of heat, he is one of two County Council members who appears not to have fallen for the Al Parrish mantra that growth pays for itself.
June 4, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realdealsummerville (anonymous) says...
I THINK THAT THE BUSINESSES FACING THIS TAX IS MESSED UP. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE SHARED, ESPECIALLY BY THOSE WHO ARE MAKING MONEY OF OFF ALL THE NEW HOUSES. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE NOT TO CHASE OUT BUSINESS WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THESE SCHOOLS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
June 5, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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