Proposed budget for Kershaw County schools

Kershaw County school board is slated to vote on its proposed $76 million operating budget in June. It includes salary increases; new initiatives in art, special education and literacy; and technology upgrades. The changes could mean an estimated $80 increase on all property valued at $100,000.

Here’s a quick look at what’s inside the current spending plan:

2007-08 budget: $66 million

Proposed for 2008-09: $76 million

Difference: 15 percent increase over current year

3 THINGS

Worth noting about the proposed budget:

No. 1: Salary hikes represent the greatest chunk of budget increases. The school board recently voted to approve pay increases — to the tune of $4 million — in part so the district could be more competitive with other Midlands districts. Some of the increases, about $1.1 million for teachers, are mandated by the state. Teachers can expect, on average, an 8 percent pay raise. Administrators and support staff will see an estimated 11 percent to 12 percent raise.

No. 2: About $1.2 million is included to upgrade technology in kindergarten through eighth grades. The funds will go to buy laptops for teachers, portable laptop carts for students and extra computer support staff.

No. 3: To put caps on the size of classes, about $400,000 is included in the budget to pay for new teachers. The new calculation would cap kindergarten and fourth- and fifth-grade classes at 28; first-, second- and third-grade classes would be capped at 24.

WHAT'S NEXT

On June 17, the school board will vote on the budget. Meanwhile, the school board and district officials are expected to reach agreements on doing technology upgrades for kindergarten through eighth grades, and decide whether some increased expenses should be shifted to debt service.

— Joy L. Woodson