Williamsburg County school board backs 15.2‑mill option to reduce use of fund balance after budget briefing

Mr. Street, the district’s chief finance officer, told the Williamsburg County School District Board that projected revenue gaps and state funding uncertainties leave the district facing a planned draw on reserves for FY2026–27.

“Based on these reductions, we’ve estimated a savings of about $1.9 million,” Mr. Street said, describing proposed position reductions, contract adjustments and other measures to shrink expenditures. He later flagged a locked‑in statewide teacher salary increase—“the teacher salary increase will be locked in at $2,000,” he said—as a required cost that adds roughly $800,000 in district expense when benefits are included.

The presentation walked board members through enrollment projections, a 21:1 class‑size staffing formula showing about 32 teachers overallocated across the district, and multiple tiers of proposed expenditures: mandated items (pay schedule changes and step increases), a one‑time retention bonus proposal and optional recurring raises for lower and mid‑level classifications.

Mr. Street cautioned the board about a pending state proviso that would require panic buttons in classrooms and currently has no dedicated statewide funding; he estimated initial equipment costs at “between $1,000 and $2,500 per classroom” plus recurring subscription costs to integrate location‑mapping with first responders.

Faced with two budget options—(1) no millage increase, greater use of fund balance, or (2) a 15.2‑mill increase that Mr. Street estimated would raise about $792,000—the board used a show of hands to register direction for the district’s presentation to the state. “So we have a unanimous consensus of the board,” the chair said after the poll.

Under the 15.2‑mill option, the district would reduce the projected use of fund balance to roughly $3.0 million versus about $3.5–3.8 million under the no‑mill option (figures reflect the one‑time retention proposal). Mr. Street emphasized that even with additional local revenue the district would still rely on reserves to close the gap in the proposed spending plan.

The board did not take a formal roll‑call vote on millage during the meeting; members provided the consensus to guide the superintendent’s meeting with state officials the next day. The superintendent and finance staff said they would return with any new legislative or state formula information and further budget adjustments before final adoption.

Next steps: the board’s leadership will present the board’s consensus to the state superintendent and continue budget work with staff; final budget adoption and any formal millage vote remain to be scheduled.