Will the public schools face a budget crunch?
A new plan to fund public education in South Carolina likely will reflect higher allocations. but there might not be enough to raise teacher pay by $4 thousand a year. That’s Dr. Michael Thorsland’s interpretation of preliminary numbers from Columbia. Recently, Oconee State Rep. Whitmire raised expectations of $4 thousand pay increases, in part, to dent the exodus of professionals from positions. With its large tax payments from Duke Energy, Oconee remains a wealthy district. Yet last night Thorsland cautioned county trustees about the ramifications for Oconee in a new plan to fund education. Same time, however, it’s possible, Thorsland concedes, the Senate will be kinder with money for Oconee than the House, along with the potential that a continual growth in the county tax base will increase the value of what a tax mill generates. The concern that there might have to be a cut in positions (including teaching jobs) was directed last night to Thorsland by Dr. Meaghan Ketterman, District Two trustee.