WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County School Board of Trustees voted 7-0 at their April 16 meeting to pass first reading of their $34,334,464 budget for 2013-2014. The budget, up from last year’s $32,789,140, anticipates an increase of $941,800 in local revenues from 2012-2013, but with an unchanged millage rate of 203.1.
Kevin Robinson, Director of Finance for the District, told the Board that last year administrators budgeted conservatively in terms of funds from local revenues and actually collected more in local property taxes, late fees and fines than expected. This year, he said, that expected number was bumped up by $800,000. The State’s portion of revenues was also tweaked in the coming budget by an additional $200,000. The additional $1 million is offset by a decrease of approximately $100,000 in other local taxes.
The 2013-2014 budget also includes a transfer of $291,000 from the general fund to the food services fund, Robinson said, as well as more than $695,000 slated for the Chester County School District to pay for Fairfield County students living in the Mitford area and attending Chester County schools.
Salaries consume about 85 percent of the budget, Robinson said, with a 2013-2014 increase of $1,025,508, which includes step increases for teachers and non-teaching personnel, as well as an increase in health insurance costs and retirement benefits, but 5 percent each.
