Daniel Prince
May 8, 2023
Meeting set for tonight; final budget approval set for June
With nearly half of the Union County Board of School Trustees having been newly elected within the past year, a couple of budget workshops have been planned to keep them informed on the budget process. New members on the board this year are Beth Anthony, Kelly Shropshire, Mark Truitt, and, most recently, Kevin Brewington. The first budget workshop was scheduled back in February, during which the board heard about the district’s capital expenditure plan along with an early update on the budget. Finance Director Linda Griffin will be leading a second budget workshop tonight at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Union County Career and Technology Center.
Usually, the last piece of the district budget comes into focus with the passage of the state budget. The state budget has been passed by both the SC House and Senate. Now, it awaits a conference committee to iron out some differences between the two versions before sending it back to both chambers for final approval and to the governor for his signature.
At the last board meeting, Griffin presented the board members with information on tax increases and what raising millage would bring in. At that meeting, Griffin said the board could increase the millage rate by as many as 10.2 mills, which would generate a little more than $430,000 for the district. She said the additional revenue could help the district add two steps in the district’s pay scale. Currently, teacher pay in the district reaches its peak after a teacher has 24 years of experience. Adding two more steps would provide increases for up to 26 years of experience. This is another way the district can stay competitive with its neighbors and keep veteran teachers. The additional revenue would also help increase the classified pay scale for teacher assistants, secretaries, student records clerks, and other support staff. The money would also be used to fund the state-mandated 25% increase in bus drivers’ pay starting next year.
The board is expected to discuss this during the budget work session, though it cannot take formal action until a regular board meeting. The district’s budget is expected to be presented for first reading during the May regular meeting, and second reading will come in the June meeting.