By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

COUNTY — Citing financial difficulties that may arise, [cointent_lockedcontent]the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees tied 3-3 on a vote to raise the salary for assistant principals, with trustees Dr. Brian Swords, Judy Edwards and Dr. Herbert Cooper approving the measure.

For some board members, it was a matter of not having enough time to consider the measure.

“We shouldn’t vote on things we don’t have information about,” board member Henry Wilson said.

The measure would cost $80,000 to adjust the salaries for assistant principals. The money was suggested to come from the district’s fund balance.

Board member Alex Saitta explained his philosophy on personal spending, as well as school board spending.

“I fully fund and pay for things, and only after I’ve been able to pay for the things that I have bought do I actually go buy something else,” Saitta said. “It’s pretty much common sense.”

Even with an increase of revenue, the board would still have more dollars going out to pay for things than it would have coming in, Saitta said.

“That’s not a good position to be in,” he said.

Saitta said a third teacher pay raise is not fully funded with current budget dollars.

“And that’s a problem if the world stops right now,” Saitta added. “I don’t think it is wise to give assistant principals a second pay raise this year when the district hasn’t figured out how to fully and permanently fund that third teacher pay raise.”

Saitta pointed out that part of the budget includes $1.5 million from some sale of property that fell through.

“Basically we’ve made a commitment for $1.5 million that we don’t have recurring revenue for,” he said.

Saitta said the board should take its time on increasing the assistant principals’ pay, first taking care of what the board has already committed to.

Wilson pointed out that despite the recession, the district remains in good financial shape. Wilson was one of the board members upset over receiving news about the matter so close to the date to vote on it.

“We got the board packet on Friday and haven’t had time to ask questions,” Wilson said.

Wilson suggested the board be careful with obligations to be funded with dollars from the district’s general fund.

“The general fund isn’t a savings account to grab money from when we want to,” Wilson said.

Wilson suggested the board table the issue to give members a chance to better understand it.

“Assistant principals signed a contract to be paid from the teachers’ scale,” school district financial services director Clark Webb said. “They’re not being paid that way.”

Saitta said the district has other needs that will require attention sooner.

“Additionally, the administration is going to present its next building maintenance plan next month,” he said. “The last time I looked, that was $4.6 million, and only $3.5 million is coming in, so it is too facing a $1.1 million shortfall. The district chose to build all these buildings, (and) now those investments must be maintained, so that is a higher priority that must be addressed first.”

After the measure failed, Saitta pointed out that the 3-3 vote effectively tabled the measure for future consideration, which may work out best for school district concerns.

“When you spend money you don’t have, and then you spend more, you get yourself in financial trouble in the long run, and the district needs to avoid that,” he said.

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