Following weeks of deliberation, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 trustees were able to pass a 2009-2010 budget without a tax increase or furloughs.

“This is really good for the district. It’s a wonderful budget,” said Board Chairman Julius Page.

The board gave unanimous, third-reading approval to the $55.9 million budget on Tuesday. To balance the budget, the district will withdraw slightly more than $500,000 from its fund balance.

The district will also use $1 million from the fund balance to pay off debt accumulated from a federally-funded teenage pregnancy prevention program.

Assistant Superintendent Donnie Boland said the program’s debt grew because OCSD 5 wasn’t fully reimbursed by the federal government for several years.

Boland estimates OCSD 5’s fund balance will be between $6.5 and $7 million after this past fiscal year.

Board Vice Chairman Melvin Crum said the district must find ways to replenish the rainy-day fund.

Last week, the board opposed the idea of furloughing teachers and support staff for five days to slash expenses. Boland said the furloughs would save OCSD 5 just under $1 million.

The board also shot down a proposed a 7.4-mill property tax increase last month.

To avoid furloughs, Boland moved $410,000 in state and federal program funding to the general fund to beef up revenues.

Boland noted the movement of the state funds is allowed under the school spending flexibility act passed by the General Assembly.

The district also shifted $275,000 in expenses, such as computers, to other accounts, Boland said. He noted the district shaved an additional $2.8 million from the general budget by paying some salaries with other funding sources, primarily federal stimulus money.

The district also cut costs by not filling vacant positions.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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