Board approves FY2526 budget after revisions; cleaning contract and salary study drive main changes

The Kershaw County School Board approved the FY2526 general fund budget on second reading after staff presented updated revenue projections and a set of expense changes. Finance staff said revisions since the first reading have reduced the shortfall the district previously reported.

“We think that what we’re bringing you tonight, it reflects the final state budget,” said Mr. Willard (staff), introducing the second reading. He said final state veto activity was not expected to change the education lines the district used for planning.

Key changes presented to the board included an increase in contracted cleaning services, an upward adjustment to property insurance, small shifts in supplies and equipment, and updated local revenue projections. Mr. Willard noted the cleaning services line was increased from an earlier $2.2 million to $3,320,000 “which is roughly our annual cost for contracted cleaning services.” He said the increase restores cleaning service funding to pre‑COVID levels.

Mr. Willard told the board property insurance was increased in the second reading from $610,000 to an estimated $700,000 after the district received notification of expected increases. He also said supplies were decreased by $20,000 and an equipment line of $6,609 was shifted out of the general fund to be covered from capital monies instead.

To avoid a net hit to the general fund balance, staff proposed and the board accepted a capital transfer into the general fund to cover the $1,120,000 increase tied to contracted cleaning services. “We have not increased this budget substantially overall because we are going to offset that $1,120,000 increase with a capital transfer to the general fund. That will give us a zero net impact on the budget balance,” Mr. Willard said.

Revenue updates included a roughly $980,000 increase in projected local revenues driven mainly by ad valorem and delinquent tax projections (moving a line cited from 27.1 million to 28 million) and a small rise in interest revenue assumptions. Other state revenues were adjusted upward slightly (from $5,000,392 to $5,000,494). After the updates, Mr. Willard said the previously reported shortfall of $3.974 million was reduced to $2.948 million.

Board discussion emphasized the budget’s people‑first focus. Superintendent Dr. Goodwin and board members repeatedly described personnel spending — salary and fringe — as the top priority. Dr. Goodwin and finance staff outlined that salary‑related lines (salaries, insurance, retirement, and FICA) can change as individual employee moves are finalized, and staff committed to updating the board post‑reading if unforeseen adjustments arise.

Mr. Willard and Dr. Goodwin summarized salary-related changes: the district’s salary‑study implementation accounts for more than $1 million of the budget increases; food service salary adjustments are funded through the food service program and are not carried in the general fund; bus drivers receive a true 2% across‑the‑board increase; and employees not covered by the salary study receive a 2% increase plus a step increase (the step typically ranges from about 1.5% to 2%), producing an average adjustment for many employees of roughly 3.5%–4%.

The board voted to approve the FY2526 budget on the motion of Dr. King, seconded by Mr. Roberts. The motion was approved unanimously; members indicated their support by hand raise.

Board staff said the total revenues and expenditures presented for approval would not change with the capital transfer approach used to cover cleaning services. Staff also noted that object‑level lines may be adjusted as employee moves and final payroll adjustments are captured, with administrative updates to the board planned before the July budget production.