Property owners in 2 Lexington County school districts face tax increases.

Gaston and Swansea commercial and rental property owners – not primary home owners – will pay 4.22 mills more to cover:

• A 4% faculty and staff salary and step increase and fringe and pension benefits.

• Increased utilities costs for the Fine Arts Center.

• Worker Compensation and liability costs.

Lisa Ingram of District 4 in Gaston and Swansea said owner-occupied homes are exempt from the increase, but motor vehicles valued at $20,000 will cost $5.06. Business and rental property valued at $100,000 will cost $25.32 more a year.

Lexington District 2’s board approved a 4.26% tax hike that will cost $26 a year per $100,000 value of a business/rental property.

Owner-occupied homes will not be affected.

The $756,703 increase will go to the addition of 4 middle and high school teachers, elementary and middle school library improvements, 3 mental health care professionals, teacher salary increases for 23 years experience, special education equipment and a $43,990 contingency fund.

The 3 other districts in Batesburg-Leesville, Cayce, Chapin, Gilbert, Irmo, Lexington, Pelion, Pine Ridge, South Congaree, and West Columbia passed budgets requiring no property tax increase this year.