News Summary
The Lexington-Richland School District’s approved budget, setting the millage rate at 261 mills, has ignited discussions among residents about potential tax increases. Despite a slight decrease from last year’s rate, the adoption of this new rate over the rollback amount raises taxes by approximately 7.4%. Trustee Catherine Huddle explains the necessity of this increase for funding staff and teacher raises, while critics highlight the lack of support for pressing issues like class sizes. Concurrently, Huddle is involved in a legal dispute over altered security footage from a confrontation with a fellow board member.
Lexington, South Carolina – The Lexington-Richland School District Five is currently facing scrutiny after the approval of its new budget, which has sparked a debate among residents regarding potential tax increases. As the district sets its operating millage rate at 261 mills for the upcoming fiscal year, the implications of this decision could impact local property owners significantly.
Though the new millage rate reflects a slight decrease from last year’s rate of 266 mills, complexities surrounding property reassessments have resulted in confusion for many residents. A critical aspect to note is that under state law, the district is required to use a “rollback rate” of 243 mills, tied to the recent increases in property values. This has led to the realization that by adopting the 261 mills rate instead of the rollback amount, the board has, in effect, raised the tax burden by about 7.4%.
Trustee Catherine Huddle, a member of the school board, clarified that this increase means that tax bills will not remain consistent with what they would have been under the rollback rate. The funds generated from this adjustment will be allocated towards new staff positions and mandated raises for teachers. However, critics have pointed out that the budget lacks provisions for reducing class sizes or enhancing student support services, which are pressing issues within the district.
Furthermore, Huddle emphasized the necessity of the property tax increase in light of insufficient funding from the state, arguing that local funds are crucial to meeting the district’s growing needs. As the new tax rate takes effect on July 1, property owners can expect to see these changes reflected in their tax bills come October.
In addition to budgetary controversies, district trustee Catherine Huddle is embroiled in a legal dispute with the district concerning security footage related to a personal altercation with fellow board member Mike Satterfield. Huddle has initiated a lawsuit claiming that the district altered security video she had requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
The lawsuit arises from a confrontation on October 28, during which Satterfield reportedly confronted Huddle regarding a flier that contained criticism of his daughter, a teacher at the district. Huddle expressed concerns that the footage provided by the district had been edited, omitting essential segments of the incident before it was released to her.
According to Huddle, the encounter escalated to the point where she felt threatened and retreated into a restroom to avoid further confrontation. The district has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, which seeks to retain the original recording of the altercation. An analysis conducted by a video expert hired by Huddle indicated that metadata from the district’s footage appeared to show signs of tampering.
Notably, the district informed Huddle that the original video had been “inadvertently destroyed,” raising further questions about the transparency and handling of the situation. The lawsuit requests an independent forensic video consultant to examine the footage and the circumstances of its alteration.
This altercation and ensuing lawsuit occur against a backdrop of heightened political tensions within the district, particularly ahead of an upcoming school board election. The incident has drawn attention due to ongoing debates surrounding curricular changes and teaching methodologies that have been controversial within the community.
Huddle’s position on the school board is representative of a faction advocating for educational reform, making these developments particularly significant in the context of broader discussions about the district’s future direction.
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Additional Resources
- WLTX: Lexington-Richland 5 Adjusts Tax Rate
- Wikipedia: Property Tax
- Cola Daily: Hiring Event for Lexington-Richland 5
- Google Search: Lexington-Richland 5 School District
- WACH: Kindergarten Applications for 2025-2026
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education in the United States
- The State: Local News on Lexington-Richland 5
- Google Scholar: School District Tax Rate Adjustments
- Post and Courier: District Five Hack Bonuses
- Google News: Lexington-Richland 5 School News
