Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Introduced

March 28, 2024

 

H. 5356

 

Introduced by Rep. Gilliam

 

L. Printed 03/28/24--H.                                                                           [SEC 4/2/2024 3:15 PM]

Read the first time March 28, 2024

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND ACT 171 OF 1976, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FISCAL MATTERS AND THE IMPOSITION OF SCHOOL TAXES FOR LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FIFTY-FIVE AND FIFTY-SIX, SO AS TO ELIMINATE AN EQUALIZATION FORMULA AND PROVIDE EACH DISTRICT WITH FISCAL AUTONOMY; AND TO SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH THE EQUALIZATION FORMULA APPLIES TO PREVIOUS TAX YEARS.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Section 1 of Act 171 of 1967, as last amended by Act 180 of 1997, is further amended to read:

 

Section 1.   On or before the first day of September for each year, Except as provided pursuant to Section 6-1-320 of the South Carolina Code limiting annual millage rate increases, the boards of trustees of School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six in Laurens County are vested with total fiscal autonomy.  On or before the first day of September for each year, the board of trustees of each district shall annually shall prepare an operating budgets budget and recommend forward to the county auditor a copy of the adopted budget and the amount of tax levy necessary to defray the cost of the budgetsbudget. the board of trustees of each school district in preparing the budgets may grant to teachers fringe benefits, in lieu of salaries, in forms as it may determine.  Certified copies of the budgets signed by a majority of the boards of trustees of the districts must be filed with the auditor and treasurer.  Copies of the budget must also be furnished to the county legislative delegation and a summary of the budgets published in a newspaper having general circulation within the district.  The auditor shall levy and the county treasurer shall collect the millage necessary to fund the operating budgets upon all taxable property in the district. For each tax year, an annual uniform millage for operating purposes must be levied on all taxable property in School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six of Laurens County. Monies derived from the levy must first be distributed to each school district to provide the amount necessary under the South Carolina Education Finance Act for required local support. Any monies not paid for required local support must be distributed to the school districts according to the current year's one hundred thirty-five day EFA weighted pupil units.  School District Fifty-five and School District Fifty-six of Laurens County shall share the forestry funds according to the current year's one hundred thirty-five day EFA weighted pupil units.  The boards of trustees of these districts may recommend a tax levy increase of up to seven mills a year plus any millage required to meet state-imposed maintenance of local effort requirements but the total increase may not exceed ten mills in one year.  The millage applicable for a school year must be approved by a positive majority of the board.  For purposes of this section, a positive majority is a majority of the total membership of the board less any vacancy.

 

SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective upon approval by the Governor, all revenues of property tax millages imposed for school operations by Laurens County School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six for School Years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 are not subject to the equalization formula provided pursuant to Section 1 of Act 171 of 1967 as those provisions applied for school years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.  Any such revenues that were distributed or transferred before the Governor's approval shall remain with the district in possession of such revenues.

 

SECTION 3.  Except as provided otherwise, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and first applies to Fiscal Year and School Year 2024-2025.

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