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A Resolution OF THE
HAMPTON SCHOOL
DISTRICT TWO BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS, over the past two fiscal years South Carolina
K–12 public schools have received General Fund budget cuts totaling $484
million which equates to more than a 20 percent reduction; and
WHEREAS, these budget cuts
have reduced the base student cost to $1,764 per student, reflecting 1996–1997 funding levels; and
WHEREAS, Education Improvement Act funds have been reduced
$112 million over that same two-year period; and
WHEREAS, the most recent figures for the proposed
2010-2011 state budget include additional EIA cuts of $9 million, and EFA cuts
of $85 million, reflecting a base student cost of $1,630 (1995 funding level);
and
WHEREAS, further cuts in revenue will harm the education
of every child in South Carolina, threatening the State's decades-long effort
to raise the levels of educational achievement and personal income of the
people of our State; and
WHEREAS, the negative impacts to educational achievement
and personal income will significantly impair economic development efforts in
our State; and
WHEREAS, Act 388 (property tax relief act of 2006) has
severely hampered school districts' ability to raise local revenue to offset
state funding shortfalls, and has had consequences that will, unless addressed
legislatively, cause unintended shifts in the distribution of EFA funds; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly continues to give favorable consideration
to legislation such as H.3272, the point-of-sale bill, and H.4243, the charter
school bill, that will negatively impact local school district revenue; and
WHEREAS, it is apparent to this Board that the K-12
educational system is at risk of significant damage due to the failure to take any
action, either immediate or long-term, to address our State’s fiscal crisis.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAMPTON
SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO Board of Trustees, does HEREBY STRONGLY URGE the South Carolina General Assembly to support
public schools during this economic crisis and prevent the loss of more teacher
jobs by providing new revenue streams such as removing tax exemptions,
enforcing online sales tax collections, and increasing the State’s
lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax to the national average while directing a
portion of the proceeds collected from the increase in the cigarette tax to
K-12 public education.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the South
Carolina General Assembly place an immediate moratorium on the passage of any
further laws that will grant additional tax exemptions, or increase school
district financial obligations at the local level without adequate and
recurring state funding.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hampton
School District Two Board of Trustees supports the immediate enactment by the
General Assembly of maximum financial flexibility for local school districts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hampton
School District Two Board of Trustees supports Legislative action this year to
hold temporarily (for one year only) the Index of Taxpaying Ability published
in February 2009 and use it for funding fiscal year 2010–2011.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be furnished to our members of the
Legislative Delegation and communicated to our parents, businesses and school
supporters.
APPROVED by the Hampton School District Two Board of
Trustees at its March 9, 2010 Board Meeting. |
