BCSD sets wheels in motion for increased student opportunities and competitive salaries
July 12, 2016
MONCKS CORNER, SC – The Berkeley County School Board vote that passed the 2016-2017 General Fund Operating Budget has set the wheels in motion for students to have more opportunities, and for teachers and bus drivers to receive more competitive wages.
The Budget
The budget will fund the highest priority district needs identified by schools, district departments and the Board. The budget includes $10.86 million for improvements in employee compensation; $3.37 million for additional teachers to address the anticipated growth of 750 to 1,000 students annually; and $3.62 million to open and operate Philip Simmons Elementary, Middle and High Schools. The remaining $2.74 million will fund critical student and teacher support personnel, including psychologists, social workers, instructional technologists and nurses. The budget also includes more than a half million dollars to provide additional support to students in the highest poverty rural schools in the district.
The approved budget provides the resources for Whitesville Elementary’s Montessori program and H.E. Bonner’s arts infused program to continue. It also allows the creation of the Rural School Initiative, which provides more resources to students in Berkeley County’s most rural areas. Teacher and bus driver salaries will see increases, which make their salaries more competitive with neighboring districts, and enhances the district’s ability to attract and retain high quality teachers and support employees.
A Mill
The 2016-2017 General Fund Operating Budget as adopted is based on the Board’s approval of a four mill tax increase. One mill is equal to 1/10 of a cent, or $.001. The four mill increase will not increase property taxes for owner occupied homes. For personal property taxes, the millage rate increase adds $30 to the tax bill of a vehicle valued at $30,000.
Why the increase?
Despite being an excellent steward of taxpayer funds, the district faced new state mandates, including a two percent cost of living increase for teachers. The state funded only one percent of that increase; the district had to provide the funds necessary for the additional one percent in the 2016-2017 General Fund Operating Budget. Other items included in the budget that required significant funding were additional teacher positions to support the expected enrollment increase of 1,000 students per year, and the opening of 3 new schools, Philip Simmons Elementary, Middle and High.
