School district's proposed budget will be posted on Web site

Residents can give their opinion of this year's $59.5 million school budget at a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., June 9, at the district office on Twin Lake Road.

School trustees will vote on final approval of the budget at the regular board meeting after the public hearing. The proposed budget is available for viewing on the Internet at: www.cherokee1.k12.sc.us.

Finance director Ben Childs said the budget should be posted to the Web site Wednesday. To view the budget, click on "Finance Reports" under the Office of Finance and Operations.

Administrators have proposed a balanced budget with no tax increase.

While revenues are projected at $61.7 million, superintendent Dr. Bill James said the district has worked to limit budget expenses to $59.5 million for the coming school year.

"We currently expect to end the current year with $4.9 million in the reserve fund. This would be enough to fund the district's operations for 16 days (without having to borrow money)," James said. "We feel that we will face a mid-year budget cut from the state. We want to add $2 million to the district's reserve fund so we are better prepared to handle any financial difficulties."

School budgets are funded through state property taxes, a 1-cent sales tax and federal funds.

The district plans to leave 61 positions unfilled through retirement and employee turnover to save $2 million, James said. Personnel expenses account for 90 percent of a budget that totals $59,586,228.

All district employees will receive a 3.85 percent pay raise. The average Cherokee County teacher salary will be $47,138 this coming year. A first-year teacher will make $31,543.

School trustees agreed Monday to purchase cameras for middle school security systems and fencing to comply with a state requirement for centralized bus parking lots.

The state Department of Education now requires districts to have a lighted, fenced parking area where drivers must park the school buses at the end of the school day.

James said the district will spend $30,000 from its maintenance department budget to comply with the requirement.

"We received a waiver from the state on the requirement to have centralized parking areas in Gaffney and Blacksburg until the building program is complete," James said. "This is something we must get done over the summer."

James said the security systems will be bid and funded from the district's debt service fund.

Debt service millage has doubled from 12 to 26 mills since 2006. The increased millage has come with the district shifting capital expenses to its debt service and bond payments for a new $35 million school building program.