Florence School District 4

No way to fund schools

Gov. Nikki Haley didn't fare too well on the veto front last month, as the Legislature overrode most of her efforts to cut the state budget. But one little-noticed veto that was sustained by the Legislature served as a needed restraint on school funding during tough economic times.

A proposal to allow a cash-strapped school district in Florence County to issue bonds to meet operating expenses was a recipe for financial disaster.

Florence District 4 needed $800,000 to pay its bills, primarily for health insurance premiums and payroll taxes.

At least two other districts, Colleton County and Hampton District 2, also were interested in going the bond route because of budget problems.

Even the Charleston County School District was interested in a similar measure.

But bonds are issued for capital improvements, and using them for operating expenses requires a legislative dispensation. Fortunately, the Senate sustained the governor's veto.

As Sen. Shane Martin, R-Spartanburg, explained, using bonds to pay operating expenses is "almost like putting your light bill on your credit card." He added, "It's unsustainable."

School districts have had a tough time living within their limited means during the economic downturn. Revenues have been down, federal stimulus money is gone and it's the worst time to raise taxes.

The solution, however, isn't irresponsible financial management, but belt-tightening, even when painful. Otherwise, districts are just borrowing trouble.

The governor's veto sent the right message for fiscal restraint.

Florence County District 4 parents concerned about quality of ed ...

TIMMONSVILLE, SC (WMBF) Parents in Florence School District 4 say they are worried about the quality of education their child will get next year, even after the district passed a budget and said school will open.

The Florence County School District 4 School Board did pass unanimously a 4.9 million dollar spending plan for next year. However, the district's financial advisor says the district still has to make cuts, and he plans on recommending they chop more than $500,000 out of the budget passed.

Parents say they still have not gotten the answers they want about next year.  They say they want to know for sure the district can operate and stay open all year.

"Our kids are going to walk in here and not know whether or not they're staying in Timmonsville, or whether Timmonsville can give them what they need. So we're in a mess, still," said Misty Hopkins. "A lot of parents aren't bringing their kids back next year because of the mess this past year."

But kids leaving the district could put an even bigger financial strain on the budget. The budget factors in more than 700 students and the money the state allocates for them.  If students leave the district will not get that money. The board also knows there could be fewer tax collections, for example if a business closes, or someone sells the extra car, taxes aren't collected. 

Also, the district owes nearly $500,000 in unpaid health and retirement benefit payments to the state. District officials plan on meeting with the state officials next week to find out if they can work up a repayment plan, or if the state wants full payment now. Full payment will mean a whole new perspective on the budget passed.

It is all issues that worry parents, and that's why many say they want an honest answer about what's going on. The district did say that more cuts would have to come from personnel, because that makes up 85 percent of the budget, and there's not many other places to cut.

"Actually nothing has changed, this is something as a community we're used to, and until we see change that's going to be the final straw for us," said Vernon Davis, a concerned parent. "Throughout the months past we've been dealing with a lot of fiction and we wanted to know what are the facts, will we open, how long we will remain open, what kind of conditions our kids will effect when the doors do open."

The district says that school will open on August 16, and a uniform policy will be put into place in all schools.

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