Celebrating Your Support
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In November 2014, Aiken County citizens voted in support of the Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax to address facility construction of Aiken County’s schools. This additional 1% sales tax took effect on March 1, 2015 and will benefit five designated and voter approved projects, including Aiken High School, North Augusta High School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, Ridge Spring-Monetta's K-12 Campus and, as funding is available, updates to Aiken County's renowned Career & Technology Center.
The District utilized conservative sales tax projections provided by the South Carolina Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Office for planning purposes and as required by the enabling legislation. The Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Office projected $188,639,040 over the life of the ten year, 120-month collection period.
Collections are trending stronger than projected.
“The trust that was given to the school district required a tremendous amount of faith; we’re going to do the best we can to be good stewards of that trust,” Aiken County's Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford promises.
Information posted here is just one way that our District communicates its gratitude to the community and keeps stakeholders updated on the Progress of the Penny.
Penny Tax Facts
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Approved: November 4, 2014
Amount: 1% sales tax on eligible items
Use: 10% used for property tax relief + 90% five projects
Start Date: Commenced March 1, 2015
Duration: Continues ten years & does not automatically renew
Option: Bond Issuance up to $125 million
Anticipated Total Funding: $188,639,040
Option: Bond Issuance up to $125 million to jump start the project
5 construction projects identified on the ballot:
Aiken High School
North Augusta High School
Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
Ridge Spring-Monetta K-12 Campus
Aiken County Career & Technology Center
Oversight Committee
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To garner and ensure the public's trust in their additional investment in public school facilities, Aiken County's School Board nominated community members to oversee sales tax revenue and expenditures. The Oversight Committee includes the following:
Community Chair: Moses Mims
Vice Chair of the Board of Education: Mr. Levi Green
Sara Johnson
Louis McCarty
Danny Raines
Kurt Roberts
Ahmed Samaha
Karen Skiff
Jeffrey Thomas
Oversight Committee Meeting Handouts
Collections To Date
Question
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We are grateful for your support of our public school facilities! Please don't hesitate to send us any questions. We'll be happy to answer them!
Send Penny Tax Questions to Aiken County Public Schools' Director of Communications Merry Glenne Piccolino, mpiccolino@acpsd.net.
Penny Tax News
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Construction begins for new Leavelle McCampbell Middle School in Graniteville; November 11, 2015
Editorial: Update on sales tax boosts transparency in Aiken County; November 4, 2015
Aiken County Public School District to update progress of 1 percent sales tax; November 4, 2015
New Leavelle McCampbell Middle in Graniteville should open in summer 2017; October 14, 2015
Aiken County School District pleased with early sales tax collections; October 12, 2015
Aiken High to be rebuilt in phases; September 16, 2015
New construction at Aiken High to begin in the spring; September 15, 2015
District Details the Progress of the Penny; January 9, 2015
Initial Aiken County school design plans revealed for sales tax projects; July 16, 2015