News Summary
The Greenville County School District is grappling with a potential $14 million funding loss due to budget changes, affecting local education significantly.
Greenville County Faces $14 Million Funding Shortfall for Schools
The Greenville County School District is at risk of losing $14 million in funding due to proposed changes in the county’s fiscal budget. If passed, the budget plan would increase the county’s share of Fees in Lieu of Taxes (FILOT) from 30% to 60%, diverting critical resources away from the school system.
This estimated shortfall is notably $6 million higher than earlier calculations conducted by the school district. During a workshop focused on the budget, County Council Chair Benton Blount characterized the potential loss as the “elephant in the room,” highlighting the severity of its impact on local education.
A meeting involving Blount, Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster, and Board of Trustees Chair Carolyn Styles took place on Monday morning to address the anticipated repercussions of the budget cuts. Styles emphasized a preference for avoiding any cuts, though she acknowledged that progress has been made in discussions with county officials regarding the budgetary impacts.
County Administrator Joe Kernell introduced an alternative strategy that aims to mitigate the funding reduction for schools from $14 million to $5 million. This would be achieved by decreasing the road improvement budget from $40 million to $36 million. Some council members have also suggested implementing a “phase-in” strategy to help cushion the immediate financial blow on districts that would be affected.
Council Members Express Concerns
However, council member Ennis Fant expressed criticism over the proposed plans, arguing that there is no logical rationale connecting road funding directly to the education of children. Another council member, Curt McGahhey, noted that agreeing to any phased-in approach would require a commitment to future road funding, suggesting a need for continued investment in infrastructure despite funding limitations.
Discussions during the workshop also brought to light concerns regarding the volatility of FILOT funding from year to year, raising issues about the sustainability of relying on these funds for educational and infrastructural projects. Councilman Alan Mitchell recommended exploring a penny sales tax as an alternative means to finance road improvements instead of reallocating FILOT funds intended for schools.
In addition to the strain on the school district, proposed funding cuts may extend to other critical services, including fire districts. The Donaldson Fire District and the South Greenville Fire District could see reductions amounting to about $500,000, further complicating the budgetary landscape.
The school district and its representatives are firmly opposed to any reduction in FILOT distributions affecting themselves or other tax-supported entities, particularly as budgets have already been established based on the current funding formula. Further budget workshops are expected in the coming weeks as discussions continue to evolve around the proposed fiscal year budget.
Upcoming Budget Meetings
The Greenville County Council is slated to present the first reading of the budget proposal during a meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. At this time, no final decisions have been made, and amendments to the proposal are anticipated in future meetings.
As the situation develops, the priority remains to address the educational and public safety needs of the community while navigating the complexities of funding allocation and financial planning.
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Greenville Co Schools Lose $14 Million
- Greenville Online: Council Considers Mitigating Cuts
- Post and Courier: Tax Money for Roads
- Wikipedia: Funding in Education
- Audacy: County Council New Budget Plans
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- WSPA: County Council Agrees to New Budget
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
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