WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Fairfield Co. Council calls out school board on tax hike

Fairfield Co. Council calls out school board on tax hike

By Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield - bio | email

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Fairfield County Council is calling out the school board in a letter.

In that letter, council explains why it just raised taxes to the highest rate that's legal and they're pointing the blame at the school Board of Trustees.

Carolyn Smoak got the letter. She described the tax hike in only one word. "Anger," she said.

Council says they reluctantly did it. They got a request from the county school board to raise it. Problem is the district already gets more than $12,000 per student. The average county gets only about $9,000. Council says they don't understand why the school board needs more and neither does Smoak.

"I think they need to look into their backyard and figure out where they're wasting taxes," said Smoak.

So we tried to ask the superintendent to break down the spending. We were told she was in meetings and we got her voicemail when we called.

However, we did find Polly Parker -- the board's newest member.

"I don't think people in there know enough to spend money like it should be spent," said Parker. "And it's no reflection on them."

Parker says there is not a permanent superintendent and money is going out the window.

"The school board has been doing things before I came that I feel have lost the district a lot of money like a forensics study for $100,000, then a salary study for another $100,000," said Parker.

Parker says she knows she's risking it all by speaking out, but with a third of students not graduating, she says this fight is worth it.

"I think Fairfield School District is in a critical moment in its history," said Parker. "I want it corrected so the students get what they deserve."

We requested a copy of minutes from a September board meeting so we could break down spending for you, the district says they will not be making that information public until Tuesday night.

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