Court Opinion

ID: 9780788
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 02:54:18.206221+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:34:13.628802
License: Public Domain

*285Justice BEATTY.
I concur with the majority; however, I write separately to express my view that Act 308 is also unconstitutional special legislation beyond a reasonable doubt. Article III, Section 34 of the South Carolina Constitution prohibits special laws where general laws can be made applicable. There is no evidence in the record of this case that distinguishes The Board of Trustees of the School District of Fairfield County from the majority of school district governing bodies in this state; all are susceptible to fiscal mismanagement.
Further, Act 308 clearly conflicts with provisions of Title 59 of the South Carolina Code which grant authority to boards of trustees to manage and control school districts. See S.C.Code Ann. § 59-19-10 (2004). Budget making authority is inherent in the board of trustees’ management and control mandate. Moreover, Title 59 specifically authorizes school trustees to set the salaries of teachers (§ 59-19-90(2)), charge fees (§ 59-19-90(8)), sell or lease property (§ 59-19-250), and purchase land (§ 59-19-180). These powers are manifestations of the Legislature’s intent that school boards of trustees manage the finances of school districts. Act 308 is in direct conflict with general law and is therefore unconstitutional. See Henry v. Horry County, 334 S.C. 461, 514 S.E.2d, 122 (1999).6
Allegations of fiscal ineptness and mismanagement by school boards are plentiful throughout this state. Assuming that Act 308 is efficacious, its tenets could prove beneficial to the entire state, not just Fairfield County.

. The dissent illuminates in part this court’s history of turning a blind eye to legislative constitutional infractions when it comes to public education. I would posit that the sordid reasons for having turned a blind eye supposedly no longer exist so we should cleanse our eyes with the "moistened clay” of justice and rule accordingly. It is time to end this court-created education exception to our constitutional mandate.