A plan to address the problem was on the Board’s agenda for its Tuesday night meeting.
School District attorney Charles Boykin told the Board that a superintendent cannot cut teacher salaries or jobs without getting board approval.
A vote was not taken and Ingram was instructed to make recommendations to the Board, if budget changes became necessary due to a revenue shortfall.
An explanation of the agenda item of the Ingram plan reads as follows: “The District is requesting that the Superintendent be given the authority and sole discretion to adjust expenditures that may include a reduction in salaries and personnel due to revenue shortfall of the new property tax millage cap.”
Millage is defined as a tax rate on property, expressed in mills per dollar of value of the property.
“I think you all knew this was coming," the Superintendent said.
Ingram told the Board that it was time to hope for the best and plan for the worst, concerning the District’s requested millage.
“Do we lay staff off now?, Ingram asked. “No. That's not for now. But can we cut back on materials and supplies; can we cut back on travel? Those are some of the things we need to be proactive about.”
At a recent County Council meeting, County Administrator Phil Hinely mentioned the dilemma.
“The schools millage rate that they have come up with and the rate that the auditor (Peggy Hensley) has come up with based on our understanding of the state statute is different,” he said.
The County has sought a ruling from the South Carolina Department of Revenue on how much millage can be charged.
“We are going to get a letter from DOR, saying what we are going to tax the people and for what reason,” Council Chairman David Ferguson said. “We are not going to send these tax notices out until DOR makes a decision and we have a piece of paper in hand that says that is what we are supposed to do.”
It is the responsibility of the County government to send out tax notices, which includes millage requirements for the Fairfield County School District.
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