Budget “Cuts”
After growing government by more than $2 billion over the last four years, all that taxpayer strangulation finally caught up with S.C. lawmakers today.
In proposing $331 million in additional “cuts” to deal with declining state revenues, leaders of the House Ways & Means handed out spreadsheets to members today with the following budget reductions …
Department of Education – $88.5 million (3.6%)
Department of Health and Human Services – $76.7 million (8.1%)
University of South Carolina-Columbia – $26.9 million (14.9%)
State Technical College System – $24.8 million (14.4%)
Department of Mental Health – $23.6 million (10.8%)
Department of Disabilities and Special Needs – $21.5 million (11.2%)
Department of Health and Environmental Control – $19.6 million (13.7%)
Clemson University – $16.5 million (14.9%)
Medical University of South Carolina – $14.2 million (14.9%)
Local Government Aid – $19.5 million (6.5%)
The House “cuts” also move a lot of money around, taking $10 million in surplus Department of Motor Vehicles money to use for school bus fuel and $10 million from the state’s endowed chair program to fund LIFE scholarships.
Additionally, $8 million from a controversial legislative slush fund was transferred to the Department of Corrections, although it remains unclear how much money remains in this fund, which lawmakers use to fund pet projects in their districts.
Lawmakers are also proposing the liquidation of our state’s capital reserve fund, which has a $133 million balance.
All told, we’re looking at around $488 million in “cuts” – or roughly 7% of the budget.
In addition to the Ways & Means proposals, the Senate Finance Committee put out its own spreadsheet of recommended “cuts” as well, although neither document provided much in the way of context or specifics, such as budget trends from previous years or a full accounting of any carryover balances held by certain agencies.
“There are a lot of questions that I – and other members – have based on these recommendations,” said conservative State Sen. Larry Grooms. “In trying to prioritize these cuts, we’re only looking at part of the picture.”
Grooms said he wanted to look at specific line items from previous budgets to determine if these “cuts” were in fact doing everything possible to hold front-line services as harmless as possible.
“All we got was a snapshot today and a recommendation, so I’ve got to spend some time trying to research out these other issues,” Grooms said.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering why we keeping putting the word “cuts” in quotation marks, it’s hard to really call something a cut when you’ve grown government by more than 40% over the past four years.
These are more like “reductions in excess,” the details of which we’ll be delving into more in the days ahead.
Comments
By Johnny Utah on October 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
FYI… there is no “proposing” involved in liquidating the Capital Reserve Fund. It was created to buffer reductions in revenue, so they have no choice but to put it toward the budget shortfalls. Obviously, it’s not a sufficient buffer, or there wouldn’t be a need for their October return… but that’s another matter that should be addressed in ‘09.
By rick on October 17th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
50% are educational….way to back up the educational system. Since you are bouncing checks, how about ponying up your paychecks? Substandard work should be rewarded with a rebate to the employeer. Or is this only good for private industry? Do the taxpayers of South Carolina a favor…share the pain.
By Make it Hurt on October 17th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I can tell you from experience, until they hit the admin. level at DSS, those are not “cuts.’
By Fashizzle on October 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Imagine if we had that billion dollars back that Bobby and Leatherman blew last year? And yet, somehow, they will claim to be the taxpayer saviors. Just wait for it…This garbage is really not funny anymore.
By James on October 18th, 2008 at 6:10 am
I hardly think they are looked at as saviors. They try and talk their way out of things but always sound like bumbling fools. The legislature needs to open their eyes and realize their jobs are on the line because of their leaders. The last couple of terms have seen huge turnover in the legislature due to this fact. It’s just a matter of time before them dems take control of what the republicans don’t know how to manage.
By Lloyd on October 18th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I still don’t understand why or HOW a football coach can make the money that USC, Clemson, and the other “state” supported college and universities are allowed to pay? Its a extra curricular activity (a frick’n game) and not a valid career path for the students.. oops I forgot. We live in the South…