Funds for new schools sought

3 lawmakers push bills to ease Dorch. 2 overcrowding

SUMMERVILLE — The Dorchester District 2 school board has a message for local lawmakers: Any bill that would allow impact fees for school construction is needed and welcome.

Three members of the Summerville legislative delegation, state Sen. Randy Scott and state Reps. Heyward Hutson and Annette Young, spoke to school board members Monday. All three said they recognize that the growing school district is overcrowded and there are limited ways to pay for construction of new buildings.

The three propose different solutions to the problem. Scott filed a bill in December 2006 that called for a one-time impact fee, approved by a voter referendum, on new residential property. Hutson proposed a "sale fee" bill this year that would result in a payment each time property changes hands while giving credit to longtime residents.

But both of those bills remain stuck in committees, while Young's bill has gained the most traction. Her proposal, which would establish special tax areas called residential improvement districts, was approved by the House last week in a 108-1 vote and moves on to a Senate committee for review this week. Hutson cast the dissenting vote.

Lawmakers presented their proposal to the school board and discussed why their version made the most sense for the district.

Dorchester 2 has become one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state, averaging more than 900 new students each year. The slowdown in the housing market could impact future growth, but the district is struggling to catch up with present conditions.

Young's plan would assign a special tax designation to new development if the developer and County Council agree. A bond would pay for a new school to serve those families, with a portion of the debt paid off every time a house is sold for a higher cost than the price in areas that are not a part of the special tax district. Newcomers who choose to move to new developments would be the only ones subject to the fee.

Each county could determine whether their area needs a residential improvement district, so rural counties still hoping to attract development would not be handicapped, Young said. But Hutson said he's opposed to the bill because of its voluntary nature. He said he doubts that council members and developers would agree to set up a specific area with higher costs.

He also said he wants to push forward with his proposal even though Young's version has gained more legislative support. "I've been swimming against the current many times," Hutson said. "I'm not afraid to stand up and have some backbone."

But others pointed out that none of the solutions proposed would fully fund all of the new schools that are needed. "We still have to find that other part of the money, and we support anything to help us get that," board member Bill Reeves said.

Reach Mindy B. Hagen at 937-5433 or mhagen@postand courier.com.