PICKENS COUNTY—The Pickens County School Board recently voted to provide up to a $4,600 match in non-revenue sports equipment for local middle schools.

The decision comes after a similar program was adopted for Pickens County high schools last month. The last meeting the board in June required each high school to spend $15,000 on non-revenue sports equipment, and the district will then provide a $15,000 match for the same.

The difference in this decision, however, is that area middle schools will not have to match the full $4,600.

“Middle schools have the flexibility to spend up to $4,600,” said Board Chairman Alex Saitta. “If such and such middle school only wants to spend $2,000 on non-revenue sports equipment, it can, and the district would then provide $2,000 for the same.”

Unlike high schools, all middle school sports are considered “non-revenue,” so using the money for football equipment would be permitted.

As for the rest of the budget, Saitta says it is finally coming together after a lengthy process.

“The state put its budget to bed last week,” he said. “The revenue the district is receiving from the state is up a bit, and one new expenditure was added.”