School Trustees from District 56 have given their blessing to a $33 Million budget for the coming fiscal year, 2024-25, and a $3 Million bond issue that will fund upcoming capital projects.
Second and final reading was provided Monday night for the $33,128,569 budget - 8.2% higher than this year’s budget - with a proposed 167.5 mils of property tax generating $9,353,000 of the revenues. Tax increases cannot exceed the Consumer Price Index (inflation) without a referendum. District 56 tax assessments have remained stable for more than a decade.
The budget requires two readings to pass. The $3M bond resolution requires one reading to pass.
The bond amount can be equivalent to 8% of the total assessed value of all taxable property in the district (Clinton, Joanna, Cross Hill and unincorporated areas). That total value is $73,122,083, and if the District took the full 8%, that would equal $5,849,766.
The District has tapped this so-called “eight percent money” for the past few years to finance capital projects, which recently have included major upgrades to Wilder Stadium, on the campus of Clinton Middle School (the former Clinton High School). By state law, the money is useable for Capital Improvements, cost of the bonds, and any other purpose as the board may determine. The bond is repaid through property taxes and district reserves.
On the 2024-25 budget, the Board of Trustees conducted a discussion on May 7 and gave first reading approval on May 20. Prior to final reading, the district published an advertisement with current and proposed revenue/expenditure totals. School districts also receive South Carolina Department of Education money (teachers’ salaries etc) and United States Department of Education money (food services etc). According to the May 20 minutes, the board heard from Dana Lee about her son’s dismissal from the Clinton High School football team, and provided a Spirit of 56 Award to bus driver Hub Winfree for quick action during the medical issue of a student.
At the June 24 meeting, the board provided final reading of a policy complying with state regulations about drills in the schools.
The principal is responsible for reporting the events through a state portal. Districts require of their schools:
— 2 emergency evacuation drills per year;
— Fire evacuation drills once a month;
— 2 active shooter/intruder drills per year;
— 2 lockdown drills per year;
— 2 severe weather/earthquake drills per year.
The next District 56 Board of Trustees meeting will be Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m. (following a board executive session, if needed) at the Conference Center across from Clinton Middle School. The meetings are open to the public, with a time set aside for public comments in compliance with district policies.
