The Aiken County School Board budget priorities listed in an article on page 3A of the Wednesday, April 22, edition of the Aiken Standard were incorrect.
Much of that list of priorities was quoted from a planning document released by the school district one year ago. The Aiken Standard regrets the error.
The preliminary budget reflects a step increase based on years of service for all employees.
Board members approved three additional items to include in the preliminary budget:
- $324,000 to create a science, technology, engineering and mathematics magnet school at Jackson Middle and a science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics magnet school at New Ellenton Middle;
- $195,000 for a ninth-grade academy at South Aiken High;
- Funding for a full-time assistant principal at every elementary school, regardless of size, in the district.
The budget also reflects an increase in health insurance premiums, an increase in retirement contributions and an increase in allocations to charter schools. All of these items must be included in the budget.
The total of the Fund 1, or operating budget, which includes regular salaries and operating expenses, was $173,181,513 before the three additional items that the board approved. The total preliminary budget is $265,995,606, which includes revenue and expenses for special revenue, the Education Improvement Act, debt service, school building and school food service.
Projected revenue is expected to exceed projected expenditures by $3.2 million. Many of the estimates in the preliminary budget are based on the S.C. House of Representatives version of the 2015-16 state general appropriations bill.
The S.C. Senate is holding discussions on its version of the bill.
Property tax revenues reflect an increase from growth based on recent assessed values.
Operating millage remains unchanged in the preliminary version of the budget at 141.6 mills.
The School Board will continue discussing the budget at a workshop at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district office at 1000 Brookhaven Drive.
A public hearing for the budget is set for June 9. The final budget will be approved June 23.
An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He joined the Aiken Standard in September 2014.
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