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Horry County Schools board narrows budget options, directs staff to present consolidated scenario for first reading
Summary
During a special-call workshop the board reviewed multiple budget scenarios, directed staff to produce a consolidated scenario capped near $32.76 million of fund-balance use, and agreed to present that scenario for first reading next Monday; members debated reallocating district-office increases to frontline staff and settled on a districtwide 2% salary adjustment plus additional teacher stipend in the consolidated numbers.
The Horry County Board of Education spent its special-call workshop reviewing alternate 2024–25 budget scenarios and striking a balance between mandated costs, school-based pay increases and discretionary staffing requests.
What staff presented: Chief financial presenter Mr. Gardner ran through previously circulated scenarios and a new consolidated scenario that separates mandated items (pension/benefits adjustments, contract utilities, charter support, required step increases) from discretionary proposals. He said the baseline scenario 5a would “utilize fund balance in the neighborhood of $32,763,914.” He highlighted options that would (a) increase teacher pay by $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000, (b) double proposed hourly increases for special-education paraprofessionals in some options, and (c) remove or reduce certain positions (HVAC technicians, some behavioral coaches, assistant principals) to reduce fund-balance use.
Board priorities and trade-offs: Members repeatedly framed the choice as between concentrating more funds on school-based frontline workers (paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, custodians, secretaries) and preserving or expanding district-office positions. Several trustees argued for reallocating some central-office increases to those who work in school buildings every day; others warned that freezing director-level hires could harm essential central services. Trustee debate produced a list of lines to hold in abeyance (for instance, some vacant director-level positions and some facilities hires) pending review by an incoming superintendent or facilities/security experts.
Key numbers and commitments: Staff reported mandated items and continuation of ESSER-funded positions account for a large share of the budget. Gardner estimated a comfortable fund-balance utilization target near $32.0–32.7M (he said the ‘sweet spot’ is roughly $32M) and reported after adjustments the revised scenario placed the board about $412,000 better than the original presentation. The board directed staff to present the consolidated scenario at the next meeting for first reading and to return for a vote the following meeting.
Decisions and outcomes: A trustee moved that staff present the revised 2024–25 budget scenario at next Monday’s meeting and proceed to vote at the subsequent meeting; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. On compensation, the board agreed to a districtwide 2% salary action and reallocated discretionary lines to increase teacher compensation in the consolidated numbers presented for first reading (the workshop left specifics to the consolidated scenario staff will present).
What comes next: Staff will finalize a consolidated budget document separating mandated versus discretionary lines, include the board’s agreed holds and reassignments, and present the scenario for first reading at the next board meeting. The board will consider final approval at the published vote date following the public hearing.
