Marlboro County School District gets breakdown on revenue projections

By Shireese Bell
Morning News Reporter
Published: May 19, 2008

BENNETTSVILLE — Members of the Marlboro County School District Board of Education discussed 2008-09 local and state revenue projections for the general budget at work session held at the district office Monday.

Superintendent Alisa Goodman said the district is projecting $29,976,392 in local and state revenue for the general fund.

The district, as well as other school districts across the state, has seen an increase in retiree insurance. Last year the district had $570,121 and is projecting $626,934. There also was an increase in fringe benefits.

Education Finance Act (EFA) funds also have increased from the current fiscal year.

Marlboro County is one of the few districts to receive $2.5 million from Tier III of Act 388, the new property-tax relief law. Goodman also provided a breakdown of each fund and the projected revenue.

Rising gasoline prices also have impacted the district. The district has paid $64,000 in gasoline for vehicles other than school buses. Other vehicles include, but aren’t limited to, maintenance vehicles and vehicles for field trips.

The board also received information on instruction expenditures.

Ninety percent of the district’s expenditures are spent on salaries, which includes fringe benefits, Goodman said.

Goodman said the number of employees has increased, while the number of students has decreased.

“We have a lot of (people) employed here, and that we have declining enrollment, so that over a number of years, as enrollment has dropped, the (number) people have grown,” Goodman said. “If we’re going to do creative and unique things in curriculum, we might want to decide whether or not 90 percent of our budget being spent on salaries is wise over time.

“I am not advocating a reduction of force or that we cut any teachers or teacher assistants,” she said. “The only thing I’m saying (is that) we need to take a look at whether we want to keep employing more people than we need.”

Goodman said over time, through attrition, retirement, people moving or other reasons, the district can correct this if it’s the board’s will.

Materials and curriculum make up the other 10 percent, with 5 percent being spent for each.

Sixty-six percent of the district’s revenue comes from state funding, while 20 percent comes from local revenue, and 14 percent comes from federal funding.

The board later received information on a comparison of principal and assistant principal salaries from the state Department of Education, budget needs for 2008-09 school year and recommended goals for the district.

Some budget needs include science lab upgrades, bus radios and school landscaping.

The board also had an executive session to discuss contractual matters. No action was taken.

The board is scheduled to have first reading of the budget at a June 2 board meeting.