H*2927(Rat #0154, Act #0261 of 1981)  General Bill, By B.L. Hendricks, Martin and 
E.W. Simpson
 A Bill to prescribe the procedure for determining the annual budget and school
 tax millage for the School District of Pickens County including a limit on
 increased millage based on the growth of personal income in the State plus one
 percent except upon favorable referendum vote for a larger increase.

   05/13/81  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-2356
   05/14/81  House  Read second time HJ-2431
   05/19/81  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2456
   05/20/81  Senate  Intd. & placed on loc. & uncontested cal. w/o
                     reference SJ-12
   05/20/81  Senate Amended SJ-3
   05/20/81  Senate Read second time SJ-3
   05/20/81  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of amendments SJ-3
   06/02/81  Senate  Read third time SJ-12
   06/02/81  Senate Returned SJ-12
   06/03/81  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-2810
   06/10/81  House  Ratified R 154 HJ-3168
   06/12/81         Signed By Governor
   06/12/81         Effective date 06/12/81
   06/12/81         Act No. 261
   06/23/81         Copies available

AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE THE PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND SCHOOL TAX MILLAGE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PICKENS COUNTY INCLUDING A LIMIT ON INCREASED MILLAGE BASED ON THE GROWTH OF PERSONAL INCOME IN THE STATE PLUS ONE PERCENT EXCEPT UPON FAVORABLE REFERENDUM VOTE FOR A LARGER INCREASE.

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

Annual budget for School District of Pickens County

SECTION 1. A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law the annual budget for the School District of Pickens County shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this act.

B. The board of trustees of the district shall annually prepare a budget and recommend to the county auditor the amount of tax millage, computed to the nearest whole mill, necessary to defray the cost of such budget. As used in this subsection, "budget" means that amount of the total cost of operating the schools of the district funded by ad valorem taxes on the taxable property within the district and shall not include funds obtained from other sources.

C. The board may recommend a budget increase not to exceed the dollar amount of the budget in the prior fiscal year plus a percentage of that amount based on the average increase in personal income in the State for the previous three calendar years plus the maintenance increase provided for in subsection D. The percentage increase in average personal income shall be that percentage used by the State Budget and Control Board to compute the authorized annual increase in the state expenditures based on data provided by the United States Department of Commerce.

D. In addition to the increase provided for in subsection C there may be added to the budget an amount equal to one percent of the school budget for the prior fiscal year to be used for necessary school maintenance.

E. In the event the board finds it necessary to increase the budget beyond the limits prescribed in this act, it shall submit the questions to the qualified electors of the county in a referendum and obtain their approval prior to increasing the levy beyond the permissible limitations. Such referendum shall be ordered by the board of trustees, conducted by the county election commission, and notice thereof given by publication in all of the newspapers in the county at least once a week for three consecutive weeks prior thereto. The notice shall give the date of the referendum, the questions to be voted upon, and any other information which would aid the voters to understand the question being presented to them. If the recommended levy is within the limits provided the county auditor shall levy and the treasurer collect the amount specified.

F. Notwithstanding other provisions or limitations contained in this act, the school taxes of the district shall at all times be sufficient to fund the minimum requirements of local effort for the district under the Education Finance Act.

G. Notwithstanding the limitation on budget increases prescribed in subsection C, the district shall be authorized to expend for school purposes any revenue in excess of the dollar amount of the authorized budget which is collected as a result of the increased assessed value of the property within the district provided such excess shall be added to the budget for the year in which it is expended to compute the authorized budget increase for the next year.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 12th day of June, 1981.