AIKEN --- Schools need adequate funding, candidates in the race for the Aiken County Board of Education and the state Senate and House agreed during two separate forums held Monday.

At the Aiken County Historical Society, candidates running for the Legislature talked about the need to change the state's funding mechanism for education.

"Funding has to be leveled out among counties, rich and poor," said Greg Anderson, the Democratic candidate for Senate District 25. Mr. Anderson lives in Edgefield County, which, he said, is a rural county that does not see its fair share of funding.

District 25 incumbent, Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said the property tax reform that resulted in abolishing property taxes for school operating expenses on owner-occupied homes and replacing it with a 1-cent increase in the state sales tax was the result of "folks on the coast whose property values have been skyrocketing."

Those property owners enjoyed the high property values but didn't like the taxes that went along with it, Mr. Massey said, adding that those property owners brought their concern to the Legislature and turned it into a state issue.

"This was the worst year possible for this to be implemented," he said about the tax reform.

House District 83 Rep. Don Smith, R-North Augusta, said the state's funding formula for distributing money to counties is antiquated, and because of the condition of the economy, sales tax revenue has taken a dive.

"We're going to have to deal with even more drastic budget cuts," he said. "We realize this is a problem that we do need to address."

Russell Curry, the Democratic candidate for House District 84, said schools need more technology, teachers are overworked and underpaid, and parent should be accountable.

House District 84 incumbent, Rep. Roland Smith, R-Aiken, said economic development and education go hand in hand, urging better education for children so they'll be prepared for the high-tech jobs.

The themes continued later as District 8 and District 9 candidates for the Board of Education met at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

District 9 incumbent Richard Hazen said he would ask lawmakers to fully fund education, because "it's not the priority it should be."

District 9 candidate Dave Best, of Aiken, said though the state says education is a priority, it isn't.

"Even if there is a shortfall in education, that shouldn't change the posture of education being the No. 1 priority in the state," he said.

District 8 candidate Donna Moore Wesby, of Aiken, said it's time to put its money where its mouth is, considering South Carolina ranks 36 out of 50 nationally in education.

District 8 candidate Tammy Connor-Moore, of Aiken, said, "we need to allocate funds and prioritize those funds for the children, and more money needs to go toward teacher salaries."

District 8 candidate Chuck Leopold, of Aiken, said the state's method of funding education through sales tax has not worked.

"We need to look at the balance sheet and not make knee-jerk decisions," he said.

District 9 candidate Johanna Blue, of Aiken, said she doesn't believe in cutting budgets across the board.

"Until the state chooses to take a different approach, we need to look at more creative means of funding," such as grants and foundations, she said.

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com