Throughout the holidays we enjoyed the company of our family and friends, turkey dinners and other celebrations. Now that we have opened all our presents, we look ahead to 2010.
The New Year gives us the opportunity to establish new goals and commitments; both individually and in our representative capacities as elected officials. In 2010, we resolve to concentrate on changing school funding criteria in South Carolina. Despite collecting more than $100 million in sales tax here in Beaufort County — we receive zero back for local schools. Our annual Beaufort County Council retreat is scheduled for next month and we will provide an update on this effort because it is one overarching topic outside the control of council, even though it affects each and every Beaufort County citizen.
The education funding inequity is inextricably combined with the property tax debate and the effects are more acute in Beaufort County than anywhere else in the state. It is of such significance that the county has partnered with the school district to sound the call to arms. We have engaged the McNair Law Firm to work with our legislative delegation to provide the legal research, improve communications and, perhaps, if necessary, formally challenge the state’s education funding formula. Now that the legislative session has begun, our collective attention on the inequities of school funding is more important than ever.
The goal: Restore fairness to the school funding formula and relieve a portion of the property tax burden. There are 46 counties in South Carolina and a total of 170 members of the state general assembly. Working with our senator and house members, we must convince a majority of legislators of the importance of fair and equitable funding. This is no easy task. Most counties benefit from our status as a donor county. A way to start is to educate lawmakers on the disproportionate allocations that result from the funding formula.
Beaufort County leaders have had conversations about this with other coastal counties that suffer a similar inequity. Their burden is not as great as ours, but it is unfair. A partnership with our neighbors should empower us all. But, the possibility of legal challenge is not remote.
I urge our citizens to contact our local delegation and any other members of the state general assembly. Remind them that it is unjust for Beaufort County to pay more than $100 million in sales tax for education without getting 1 cent back, especially when about half our children are eligible for free or reduced lunches and our wages are roughly 18 percent below the state average. Enough is enough.
In closing, remember Beaufort County is a spectacular place for us to call home. Please join me in committing to do more to protect our waterways and other natural resources in 2010.
Weston Newton is the chairman of the Beaufort County Council.
