Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 trustees continue to seek a way to close a $4.2 million gap in the district's $60 million budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

"It seems like it's going out one ear and going out the other," board member Samuel Farlow said during Tuesday night's board meeting. During the meeting, trustees gave second reading to next year's budget.

The initial budget proposal presented by Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services Donnie Boland was $5 million short of being balanced. By Tuesday night, the deficit was reduced to $4.2 million, but Boland said a balanced budget is possible.

"You have to make substantial cuts. It would need everyone coming to the table," Boland said.

Superintendent Melvin Smoak said cutting $5 million from the budget could do more harm than good.

"To cut $5 million, it certainly would impact student achievement and operations," Smoak said. However, Smoak said he will defer to the wishes of the board.

On Tuesday night, Boland presented the board with a PowerPoint presentation outlining the various parts of the coming year's budget. This version of the budget includes more than $3 million in overall salary and benefit increases for teachers, administrators, faculty and staff. Boland said the district is planning to employ 69 administrators, 572 teachers and 555 others during the next school year.

Boland suggested taking the remainder of the budget needs from the district's general fund, which is projected to be at about $5.5 million by the end of July. That potential withdrawal would leave the general fund at $1.3 million.

"That is terribly low," Farlow said.

Board member Melvin Crum noted the district increased the millage rate last year to decrease the district's deficit. He then asked Boland why the district continues to have a deficit. Boland said the cost of consumable goods, such as gas, is increasing, while the assessed value of property in the district remains stagnant.

Boland said the cost of operating the schools continues to go up, but revenues are not.

Following Boland's presentation, Smoak mentioned some changes that could be made to eliminate most of the shortfall. For instance, Smoak suggested delaying the renovation of the historic Ellis Building, which will cost $3.3 million. That money was slated to be withdrawn from the general fund.

Smoak also suggested an aggressive pursuit of grants that could help in closing the budget gap. He also put forth a plan to grant overtime to district employees only on a preapproved basis to keep costs down. A reduction in travel by administrators is another measure which Smoak believes could assist in trimming budget costs.

Crum said the district is facing hard economic times through no fault of its own. The restraints placed on the district by the No Child Left Behind act and the actions of the state legislature have hampered the district, he said.

Board Chairman Dr. Kalu Kalu said it's time to go back to drawing board.

"To pass the budget is going to take a lot of teamwork," he said.

Kalu asked Boland about expanding the pay periods for teachers from 24 times per year to 25 to help them out during the long summer break. Boland said that would require a complete reworking of the entire computer system and would cost the district more money.

He added that the first pay period of the school year might be moved up from August 31 to the 22nd.

Trustees are scheduled to give third reading to the 2007-2008 budget at 7 p.m. June 21 at the Consolidated School District 5 office on Ellis Avenue.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by office phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.

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