EFA Funding Restored in House Budget

During budget deliberations on the House floor Wednesday evening, Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawley's Island, proposed an amendment to replace all school districts' projected year-to-year losses governed by a formula laid out in the Education Finance Act of 1977, the amendment was supported by House leadership and adopted.
Many others joined Miller including Representative Carl Anderson from Georgetown, members of the Horry Delegation and Representatives from all the counties affected by the flawed EFA funding formula. Miller's amendment specifies the losses be restored with the $50 million in surplus funding from the Homestead Exemption Act.
Counties affected include: Georgetown- $3.8 million, Beaufort- $2.4 million, Clarendon #2 -$36,000., Horry- $4.6 million, McCormick- $104,000., Newberry #1-$131,000., York #4- $256,000., and Charleston- $64,000.
“We all realize that this problem will continue to exist and most probably get worse for the fast growing counties unless permanent legislation is agreed upon to change the funding formula. Current funding formula flaws along with unintended taxing limitations would require our schools to be forced to cut programs and staff. That option is not acceptable.” Miller stated.
An Ad Hoc Committee has been formed to study the funding formula and make recommendations to the General Assembly. School districts in fast growing areas, rated with high tax paying ability are the ones who suffered the greatest losses.
The House version of the State Budget now resides in the Senate and members of the Senate Finance Committee have been contacted to support the funding restoration.