Richland School District 2 board approves 12-mill request for FY2026 after rejecting maximum millage

The Richland School District 2 Board of Trustees voted 4-3 on April 22 to submit a 12-mill property tax request to Richland County for the district’s FY2026 general fund budget, after rejecting a motion to request the district’s maximum millage.

Board members debated the size of the tax request and which staff and program needs to prioritize. Chief Financial Officer Ms. Williams told trustees the district is anticipating $6,323,252 in new state revenue and $1,521,375 in additional local revenue without a millage increase, bringing total anticipated recurring revenue without a millage increase to $7,844,627. She said that with a full (17‑mill) increase the district could anticipate up to $14,712,627 in recurring revenue.

The board split along affordability and service lines during the discussion. Board member Mrs. Nash warned about the tax burden on households and vehicle owners; Mr. Dennis said he “can’t support a max tax a max millage.” Board member Mrs. Williams and Superintendent Dr. Moore and CFO Ms. Williams cited recurring costs and legal requirements; Mrs. Williams said, “I will be supporting the millage increase for our students, our teachers, and our community.” After debate the board declined the superintendent’s request for the maximum millage by a 3-4 vote, then approved a separate motion to submit a 12‑mill request by a 4-3 vote.

Ms. Williams laid out how the district planned to use recurring revenue and what would require a millage increase. The presentation identified 16 recurring priorities; the first four—teacher step increases, health insurance increases for active employees and retirees, and a 2% increase to bus driver pay—are listed as required or treated as highest priority. Specific recurring requests mentioned in the presentation included: - A $1,000 starting-salary boost for new teachers (priority 9). - Funding for special-education compliance and staffing (priority 6: $1,061,160 for 12 positions; priority 7: $1,100,000 for 17 FTEs if funded). - An anticipated 2.5% increase in the district’s contract with the sheriff’s office (~$80,000). - Utilities, insurance and a 1% increase for other staff (items shown for higher millage scenarios).

The presentation also showed the estimated taxpayer impact of a 17‑mill increase: “a max mill increase of 17 mills would cost $102 per $100,000 house and $20.40 per $20,000 car,” Ms. Williams said.

Separately, the board approved a proposal to spend nonrecurring fund-balance dollars on one-time items and capital needs. The list of one-time requests included retention bonuses (full-time $600; part-time $300), special-education sign-on bonuses ($2,000 for special-education teachers; $1,000 for instructional assistants), $15 per-student library book allocation (about $420,000), SRO equipment for Blythewood Academy, and other one-time curriculum, technology and facilities costs. The fund-balance package’s total for the listed nonrecurring items was presented as $8,086,045; trustees approved the use of fund balance for those items by a 7-0 vote.

The superintendent reminded the board the district must submit a budget number to Richland County by May 1; the 12‑mill figure will be the district’s submission for county consideration. The first reading of the General Fund budget was presented at the same meeting; final adoption would follow later in the public budget process.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to request maximum millage (superintendent’s recommendation): failed, 3 yes, 4 no. - Motion to submit a 12‑mill request for FY2026 (motion by Mrs. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Williams): passed, 4 yes, 3 no. - Motion to use fund balance for nonrecurring expenditures (motion by Mrs. Washington): passed, 7 yes, 0 no.

What happens next: The district will submit the 12‑mill request to Richland County by the May 1 deadline. County Council will consider the millage request as part of the county tax-setting process; state budget actions and final county revenue estimates (expected in June) may affect what the district can ultimately fund.