Independent analyst warns Rock Hill Schools of $15.8 million recurring shortfall; board and staff weigh revenue, cuts and program changes

An independent financial analyst told the Rock Hill Schools Board of Trustees on March 19 that the district’s current budget relies on roughly $15.8 million in one-time revenues and that relying on one-time funds to cover recurring costs is not sustainable.

Gary Miley, the independent financial analyst contracted to review the district’s finances, told the board, “You have a problem. It’s an addressable problem,” and said the district had used one-time transfers from the fund balance and capital accounts to balance the current year.

The analysis, presented at a specially called meeting, found that the district added dozens of full‑time positions over recent years even as enrollment declined and that roughly $3 million in salary adjustments increased recurring costs. Miley advised the board and administration to produce a FY2025–26 budget with as little one‑time revenue as possible and to prioritize placing the finance director in a direct reporting relationship with the superintendent.

Why it matters: using one‑time money to fund recurring expenses can create repeated shortfalls in future years. Board members pressed for a fuller set of…