By admin 
How can one of the Midlands’ largest school districts manage to accommodate a growing student population while also staying within its budget and avoiding a tax increase on district residents?
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The State asked the candidates running in November for the Richland 2 school board directly if the district covering the northeastern portion of Richland County if they would be willing to raise taxes, or if there were specific items from the school budget they would need to cut.
Voters will elect four candidates districtwide. Election Day for school board candidates will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting runs Monday through Saturday from Oct. 19 to Oct. 31.
The Issue
How can Richland 2, which stretches from Blythewood to Dentsville, best manage the budget for its 28,000 students while keeping the cost manageable for taxpayers?
A.J. Bracy
Bracy said the district has limited discretion over its budget, because 63% of Richland 2’s funding comes from the state, and that money is tied to a per-pupil formula.
“In our current climate, charter schools are a variable that can affect funding as well as the state budgetary process,” he said. “Currently, the district is able to function without raising taxes, and I believe there is currently no need to raise taxes. A better approach is to evaluate the spending plan to see what is effective; what may have changed since the budget was drafted and make targeted revisions and changes to the spending plan.”
Robin Clark
Clark said she wouldn’t support a tax increase at this time given the current state of the economy, when taxpayers already face enough hardships.
“Let’s make better use of what we have and become more competitive in retaining students, teachers and staff,” she said.
Titiana Frazier
Frazier was the only candidate who said a tax increase in Richland 2 “is most likely warranted,” but added, “is it feasible during this time of economic decline?”
“When you have things such as rising gas costs making sure you can get to work and from work, and get your children back-and-forth to school amongst other things can become overwhelming and stressful financially,” she said. “To then add the financial burden of an increased tax bill seems more detrimental.”
James Mobley
Mobley flatly ruled out a tax increase. “Parents are already overloaded with the cost of living,” he said.
Nor should the district consider cutting its budget, he said. Instead, Richland 2 can “seek grants, look at programs that are working and ones that are not working to reallocate resources and funding.”
“We can partner with stakeholders, businesses and companies that will provide internships, work base training, etc. for our students to be successful,” he said.
Heather Norris-Jones
Norris-Jones offered the most specific cuts she would recommend in the board’s spending plan.
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“Historically raising taxes has not significantly helped to meet the district’s needs,” she said. “The budget cuts I would recommend going forward would be a temporary freeze on salary increases for administrative staff and a 5% cut on the salaries of all staff making a 6-digit salary. We should also audit and reevaluate the travel budget for senior administrative staff.”
Niki Porter
Porter, an incumbent on the school board, said maintaining the strongest possible classroom environment is “non-negotiable.”
“Like any government agency, our district must demonstrate fiscal responsibility by first conducting thorough audits to streamline operations and eliminate non-essential administrative overhead,” she said. “However, with today’s rising fixed costs, relying solely on cuts can eventually jeopardize student learning.”
If “no further non-classroom reductions can be made without diluting educational quality, a tax adjustment becomes an inevitable, responsible necessity to keep our schools strong.”
Anthony Stovall
Stovall said he was committed to “responsible stewardship” of the district’s resources.
“Raising taxes should be a last resort, considered only after a thorough review of available funding, essential needs, and potential savings,” he said. “The district has already taken steps to balance its budget, including eliminating vacant positions and reducing school and department budgets. Any further reductions must be carefully evaluated for their impact on students, staff, and school operations.”
Richland 2 should continue to periodically review the effectiveness of its current spending choices, he said.
“Our community deserves responsible spending and well-supported schools,” Stovall said. “I remain firmly committed to both.”
Joe Trapp
Trapp, another incumbent, said the board would have difficulty raising revenue even if a tax increase were needed, because it would require the support of Richland County Council.
“The District can ask for an increase in millage but it can’t demand an increase,” he said. “The District has not gotten an increase even when it has asked for one.”
But the district can and does make adjustments to its planned spending as the school year progresses. “The District is constantly moving funds to balance changing needs,” Trapp said.
“Next spring the administration will present a proposed budget and that is when the Board will start to discuss budget priorities. Federal and state regulations, student enrollment, staff vacancies and the fluctuating prices of utilities and maintenance are among the many factors that affect the cost of operating the District. This process is constantly addressed by the District Administration and the Board.”
Others
Candidates Nathaniel Canfall and Shannon Morgan did not submit responses to The State before publication.
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