The Beaufort County Council on Monday agreed to dedicate up to $125,000 toward an effort to find a legislative or legal solution to the county's continued shortfall in state funding for public schools.

Because of a state formula based on the value of property in the county and ignoring pockets of poverty, Beaufort County has long received a fraction of what its taxpayers send to Columbia to pay for schools.

If not for a last-minute infusion of money by the General Assembly, Beaufort County would have faced a $6 million shortfall from the state this year.

Members of the council and the school board approved a plan last week to hire a consultant to determine the best approach in effecting change in Columbia. The school board is expected to vote on a similar measure today and match the county's funding.

"This is an education effort," County Councilman Dick Stewart said Monday.

The council voted 10-0 on the plan, with Councilwoman Starletta Hairston abstaining. Hairston said residents and elected officials had not exhausted their own campaigns to make changes in Columbia.

But Councilman Mark Generales said an even greater potential shortfall looming in 2006 doesn't allow for a concerted grassroots efforts.

"My fear is that we just don't have a lot of time," he said.

Also Monday, the council approved the $22.6 million contract for construction of the Bluffton Parkway. The council expects the project to start as soon as possible with a completion date of January 2007.

Approval of the contract had been delayed this month because the lowest proposal came in at more than $3.6 million over county estimates.

Higher gas prices were blamed for some of the difference, and County Administrator Gary Kubic said sending the project back out for bids could bring worse proposals as the demand for similar services has climbed in the storm-damaged Gulf Coast.

To help pay the difference, Bluffton has committed an additional $750,000 to the project to be paid out over six years. The town has provided $3.3 million for the project and the promise of $740,000 annually for the next five years, said County Council Chairman Weston Newton.

Beaufort County is covering its share of the difference with impact fees charged to new developments and through the county's new admissions fee.

The council approved the contract 10-0 with an abstention from Councilman Gerald Dawson, who cited concerns over the new cost estimates.

Also Monday, the council:

Voted 9-2 for initial approval to exempt club memberships from the county's admissions fee, noting the fee was intended for admission to specific events, not permission to use facilities. Councilmen Herbert Glaze and William McBride opposed the measure;

Voted 11-0 to shift the county's employee insurance program from Blue Cross-Blue Shield of South Carolina to Unicare with a $6.2 million contract;

Voted 11-0 to appropriate accommodations tax collections from 2 percent charged by the state on overnight lodging in unincorporated Beaufort County to 31 tourism-related programs, including $11,100 to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and $2,800 to Port Royal to go toward a kayak trail; and

Voted 11-0 for initial approval for two rural business districts that allow standing businesses to conform to county zoning standards and provide limited infill opportunities.