S*1298(Rat #0151, Act #0299 of 2012)  General Bill, By McGill
 AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 84 OF 2011, RELATING TO THE FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL
 DISTRICT NUMBER THREE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO MODIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR THE
 APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT BUDGET AND PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER OF PUBLIC
 PARTICIPATION AND FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT. -
 ratified title

   03/01/12  Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on local &
                     uncontested calendar (Senate Journal-page 7)
   03/02/12         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/07/12  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 16)
   03/08/12  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 8)
   03/12/12  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 3)
   03/12/12  House  Referred to Florence Delegation (House Journal-page 3)
   03/20/12  House  Delegation report: Favorable Florence Delegation
                     (House Journal-page 75)
   03/22/12  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 18)
   03/22/12  House  Roll call Yeas-106  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 19)
   03/22/12  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 20)
   03/23/12  House  Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 1)
   03/29/12         Ratified R 151
   04/02/12         Signed By Governor
   04/04/12         Effective date 04/02/12
   09/05/12         Act No. 299

(A299, R151, S1298)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 84 OF 2011, RELATING TO THE FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER THREE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO MODIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT BUDGET AND PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT.

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

Public participation in budgetary process

SECTION    1.    SECTION 3 of Act 84 of 2011 is amended to read:

"SECTION    3.    (A)    Prior to the adoption of the final district budget for the ensuing fiscal year, the Board of Trustees of Florence County School District Number Three shall hold at least two public meetings, open to all residents of the district, for the purpose of a review and explanation of the proposed budget for the district for the ensuing fiscal year.

(B)    Not later than the second day of April each year, the board of trustees of the district shall publish its proposed budget for the operation of the school or schools within the district, together with the estimated millage necessary to carry the budget into effect. The proposed budget must be available for review at the Lake City Library, at the district office, on the district's website as a downloadable file, and in other ways convenient to public access.

(C)    The board shall conduct the two public meetings as required in SECTION 3(A) sometime between April first and the regularly scheduled board meeting in May of the same year. The board will publish the dates of these meetings at least one week in advance of each meeting. The publishing of the dates of the two public meetings must be by, but not limited to, notice in the local newspaper, on the district's website, and in other ways convenient to public access. The two public meetings must be a minimum of one week apart. Each meeting will have a time set aside for public comment. As with all board meetings, minutes must be taken and made available to the public.

(D)    The budget offered by the board of trustees must maintain a tax millage levy equal to at least the level of per pupil financial effort established in the previous fiscal year.

(E)    The district administration shall maintain a register of all persons who have indicated, in writing, their desire to receive notices, communications, reports, and any other periodic information involving the budget from the district. Citizens interested in being listed on the register must file their names and addresses by which they desire to receive communications in person at the district office or by written communication mailed or delivered to the district office."

Annual budget and millage certification

SECTION    2.    SECTION 4 of Act 84 of 2011 is amended to read:

"SECTION    4.    One week following the adoption of the final budget for the district, but not later than the last day of June, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Florence County School District Number Three, shall certify the budget and millage to the county auditor who shall levy the millage upon all taxable property within the school district. The Treasurer of Florence County shall collect taxes levied and the proceeds derived from the levy. The treasurer shall keep these proceeds and disburse them to the district upon warrants issued or drawn by the school district. A tax levied under the provisions of this act may not be repealed at any subsequent meeting of the district board of trustees occurring after the approval of the budget and the millage as provided for in SECTION 3."

Time effective

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor

Ratified the 29th day of March, 2012.

Approved the 2nd day of April, 2012.