Historically, Aiken County did not have dedicated funding for athletic facility upgrades before 2014. With limited resources for school maintenance and construction, athletic facilities were not systematically addressed until recent years.

With the approval in 2014 of the One Cent Sales Tax to improve the facility needs that were most pressing at that time (Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, North Augusta High School, Aiken High School, Ridge Spring-Monetta’s schools, and the Career Center, as funding was available), the school board voted to dedicate bond premium dollars from its annual 8% bond issuance to begin a systemic effort to address our schools’ athletic facilities.

Bond Premium Dollars earmarked for Athletics have allowed long-overdue upgrades to Athletics including field turf, stadium improvements, restrooms, press boxes, updates to practice fields, new tracks, and lighting.

Over the last 10 years, facility funding options expanded to include:

2018 Bond Referendum: Funded projects at Midland Valley High, Belvedere Elementary, Millbrook Elementary, Hammond Hill Elementary, and Highland Springs Middle.
2024 One Cent Sales Tax Renewal: Supporting improvements at South Aiken High, Silver Bluff High, Midland Valley High, North Augusta Middle, and a new elementary school in Area 3.

By law, Sales Tax and Bond Referendum dollars can only be spent on voter-approved projects listed on the ballot. The 2014 Sales Tax exceeded projected revenue and Sales Tax dollars. Bond Premium Dollars will work in conjunction with other funding sources to support synthetic turf installation.

Aiken High (AHS) and Ridge Spring-Monetta High (RSMMHS) Synthetic Turf: Funding through 2014 Sales Tax.
Silver Bluff High (SBHS), South Aiken High (SAHS), and Midland Valley High (MVHS) Synthetic Turf: Funding through 2024 Sales Tax and Athletic Bond Premium dollars. MVHS athletic facilities also benefited from 2018 Bond Referendum funds.
Wagener-Salley High School (WSHS): Funding through 8% funds budgeted for the WSHS project.

Synthetic Field Turf

Why is Aiken County investing in synthetic turf?

Why was a premium turf product selected?

How are turf projects funded?

Why didn’t the district work directly with a synthetic turf vendor for installation?

Is the cost for turf really $1.7M per school?

Why is the installation happening now?

Why can’t these funds be used for teacher raises, bonuses, or other staff needs?

Is field turf being prioritized over other facility needs?