Mileage Cap Proposal
Today’s topic, set for special order, is S. 969. This is a mileage cap proposal. It basically does three things:
1>adds language to the constitution defining the reasons for a potential tax increase and requiring counties to enumerate them on the ballot. They include: a deficiency in the preceding year, any catastrophic event outside the control of the governing body, or compliance with a court order or decree.
2>limits the ability of school districts to increase mileage to the equivalent of the most recent three-year rolling average of personal income growth as determined by the US Department of Commerce.
3>limits all other jurisdiction to the above formula unless an ordinance passed by the governing body is approved by the voters at a general election.
Unfortunately, current and future bonded indebtedness, for all jurisdictions, is excluded from these caps. This raises two obvious questions. First, why would we limit mileage increases for operations but not buildings? Shouldn’t voters have the right to decide if their local government should build buildings? Second, if we leave capital bonds unregulated, does this perpetuate the possibility of every county in South Carolina auditing the Greenville Plan, whereby those taxpayers assumed over $1 billion in bonded debt without even as much as a chance to vote on it? There are amendments addressing these. Will they pass?
This is a debate for taxpayers to watch. Let me know what you think.
March 18th, 2006 at 5:42 am
I have a quick, simple idea that can be put into use throughout the state to save money. As of 2000, Anderson School District 2, which serves the tiny towns of Belton and Honea Path, paid the District Administrator a handsome sum of $109,000 per year. Anderson County has 5 school districts. Greenville County, obviously one of the largest in the state, has 1 unified school district. Just think about the savings if the law required each county to have 1 unified school district.
March 18th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
I have a quick, simple idea that can be put into use throughout the state to save money. As of 2000, Anderson School District 2, which serves the tiny towns of Belton and Honea Path, paid the District Administrator a handsome sum of $109,000 per year. Anderson County has 5 school districts. Greenville County, obviously one of the largest in the state, has 1 unified school district. Just think about the savings if the law required each county to have 1 unified school district.
March 18th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
I was asked to sit on a School District Size Study Committee this summer. The appointment was made by Sen. McConnell, the Senate President Pro Tempore.
Our findings where this:
1-very large districts were inefficient
2-very small districts were inefficient
According to the conclusions of the committee, Anderson County would best be served with 2 districts.
March 18th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
I was asked to sit on a School District Size Study Committee this summer. The appointment was made by Sen. McConnell, the Senate President Pro Tempore.
Our findings where this:
1-very large districts were inefficient
2-very small districts were inefficient
According to the conclusions of the committee, Anderson County would best be served with 2 districts.