Dorchester District 2 Referendum - 2 Key Words

As November 6th approaches, and voters get ready to hit the polls, I think it is important to make sure everyone is equipped with as much knowledge as possible before entering the voting booth.

One of the major items voters in Dorchester County will see this year is a bond referendum with proceeds to support the Dorchester District 2 school system. The school board has approved the referendum to ask voters for $179,910,000...no small chunk of change. Within the referendum question, I want to call attention to 2 specific key words:

"Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $179,910,000..."

The words "not exceeding" are important, and let me tell you why. If voters in Dorchester County approve the referendum, the School Board still has the ability (and opportunity) to take a much deeper look into what improvements, additions, and renovations are critically needed to become a world-class school system. We do not have to spend the entire $179M, and I personally think there is room to tighten our belt, spend much less, and still have a positive impact on the education of our children.

We have to have leadership on our school board that understands the long-term impact this referendum and subsequent spending will have on Dorchester County.

I am a parent, I am the husband of an educator in the district, and I am a tax-paying citizen of our county. As a School Board member I will be a common sense conservative leader, and a good steward of OUR money. If there is value engineering that can be done with referendum projects, I will stand up and make sure we spend wisely, effectively, and efficiently. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to your vote on November 6th!