News Summary
The Greenville County Board of Trustees is contesting a proposal to divert $14 million from schools to roadway projects, raising concerns about local education funding.
Greenville, South Carolina – The Greenville County Board of Trustees is opposing a county proposal to redirect $14 million designated for schools toward funding roadway projects. The contentious proposal, set to be discussed further in upcoming budget sessions, raises significant concerns regarding the impact on local education funding.
On May 6, Greenville County introduced a plan to retain nearly double the current fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) income. This move aims to generate around $43 million to support road maintenance, but it would also adjust the distribution of FILOT revenue, increasing the county’s share from 39% to approximately 60%. As a result, funding for local schools could decrease sharply.
Superintendent Burke Royster projects a FILOT income of approximately $25.8 million for Greenville County Schools (GCS) for fiscal year 2026. However, with the proposed changes, GCS estimates a loss of about $8 million that could cause significant financial strain on the district. The county has yet to provide estimates for potential revenue loss that schools may endure under this new proposal.
Royster has voiced concerns about the county prioritizing road repaving over educational needs. In response to the proposed funding shift, the GCS Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution on May 13, advocating for the rejection of this funding redistribution by the Greenville County Council. The Council is expected to introduce its budget on May 20, a timeline that adds urgency to the board’s plea to maintain school funding.
The potential budget cuts are alarming for GCS as they may heavily impact the district’s fiscal management plans for 2026, which were first presented on May 5. The school district is not planning an increase in the millage rate for the next fiscal year, but if the county’s proposal goes through, it may have to significantly reduce planned salary increases for teachers and staff to adjust to the anticipated revenue losses.
Royster has indicated that continued declines in local revenue could lead to a substantial budget deficit, disproportionately affecting personnel costs related to teaching staff. This would further undermine the quality of education provided to students in Greeneville County.
Additionally, Royster has criticized some assertions made by County Council members during a budget work session on May 12, stating they were “flagrantly untrue” regarding the district’s financial situation and performance metrics. GCS issued statements refuting claims about its budget and operational efficiency. The district highlighted its academic standing, ranking among the top eight in the state for performance while maintaining one of the lowest per-pupil expenditures.
Furthermore, GCS clarified that administrative costs account for less than 1% of the total expenditures, disputing claims that 67% of funding goes toward administration. Instead, they noted that the share of taxpayer funds allocated for public schools ranges between 15-30%. Several board members emphasized their concern over the perceived devaluation of public education amidst such claims made by county officials.
Compounding their challenges, GCS is also grappling with state budgetary elements, particularly House Bill 3645, which could introduce additional expenses related to paid parental leave. Trustee Chuck Saylors acknowledged that the district is facing budget constraints propelled both by the County Council’s direction and ongoing state education funding issues. Proposed state funding increases offer only minimal support for traditional school districts in comparison to their charter school counterparts.
There is, however, potential relief on the horizon; a provision put forth by Rep. Bruce Bannister to amend the education funding formula could contribute an estimated $2 million in additional revenue to GCS if passed. Meanwhile, the final reading of GCS’s fiscal year 2026 budget is scheduled for June 2, 2023, marking a critical date for decision-making in light of the ongoing funding debates.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: County Council Considers Funding Cuts
- Fox Carolina: Budget Battle Continues
- Greenville Journal: School Board Pushes Back
- Fox Carolina: Council Sends Divisive Budget Back
- WYFF: State Funding Concerns for Greenville Schools
- Wikipedia: Greenville, South Carolina
- Google Search: Greenville County funding cuts
- Google Scholar: Greenville education funding
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: Greenville County schools
