Richland County CUSD 1 board approves amended FY25 budget to cover automation, refinancing, vehicle and capital work

The Richland County Community School District 1 board on an evening vote approved amendments to the district’s fiscal year 2025 budget to increase four funds for specified expenses.

At a public hearing before the vote, a district staff member identified as Jason summarized the changes: Fund 20 (operations and maintenance) will increase the purchased services expense line by $200,000 to fund an upfront payment for an elementary school automation project; Fund 30 (debt service) will increase long‑term bond principal expense by $35,000 to cover refinancing costs associated with an October refinancing; Fund 40 (transportation) will increase vehicle purchase expense by $60,000 to cover a truck purchased after another vehicle was stolen; and Fund 60 (capital projects) will increase purchased services by $125,000 for asbestos removal, demolition, well removal and an identified phase 1 project described in the hearing.

During public testimony an audience member asked whether the tort fund would be fully spent down at year end. District staff explained the district will close the tort fund but not “wipe it out”; they estimated about $15,000 will remain after the usual year‑end payroll allocations that transfer a percentage of supervisory salaries into the tort fund. Staff described that calculation as part of the annual risk plan approved by the board and said the fund will be materially reduced when those transfers are processed.

The board moved and adopted the amended FY25 budget during the meeting. Motion to approve the amended budget was made by Dennis Anderson and seconded by Cindy Bailey; the roll call recorded all voting members in favor.

The hearing and the subsequent vote resolved only the four line‑item changes presented at the public hearing; there was no additional amendment to those amounts reported at the meeting.