Trustees of School District 56 were poised Monday night to approve a tax millage increase of 4.9 mils, if the District 55 trustees had taken the same action.
The District 55 board did not authorize the tax hike, so the District 56 board motion reverts to a budget of $34.38 Million.
Previously, on 1st reading, the D56 Trustees had approved a budget of $34,485,558 to operate schools for students in Clinton, Joanna and Cross Hill. That would have included the first property tax increase in more than a decade, as most of the public schools’ money comes from the State and some from the being-disbanded Federal Department of Education.
The D56 board’s budget motion says, “In the event that District 55 does not approve the proposed millage increase, as required by Act 171 of 1967 amended by Act 180 of 1997, (board member) further move that we approve the 2025-2026 Millage Alternate budget presented without a millage increase with a total budget of $34,385,558.” (District 55’s budget is $61.6 Million - its administration will bring forth some budget-cutting ideas in August.)
The budget, with the D55-tax-hike caveat, passed at the D56 board’s regular monthly meeting June 23 (the District 56 Trustees meet again on August 25). A budget hearing/public comments (budget only) time was conducted between 7 and 7:30 p.m. Monday evening. Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields provided an end of year report, and the budget/finance presentation also included a year-to-date review and resolution action on a general obligation bond ($2.5M for capital projects). The board also reviewed administration recommendations for policy changes to the promotion, retention, and acceleration policies, driven by education-reform actions in the SC General Assembly and recommended by the SC Department of Education. Audience participation time also was on the agenda.
The District 56 Board of Trustees meets in the District Conference Center at 100 Legion Dr. in Clinton, which is the former American Legion Hut. The board begins its meeting with a closed session discussion of personnel considerations (and contracts/legal matters when appropriate).
