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Senate Adds $1 Billion to Budget: Some Criticize Size of Plan, Which Earmarks Money for Columbia-Area

Posted on: Friday, 14 April 2006, 06:00 CDT

By John O'Connor, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Apr. 14--A Senate budget committee approved a $6.5 billion spending plan Thursday that adds a quarter-billion dollars more to education but also tens of millions in local projects that have drawn the ire of other lawmakers and Gov. Mark Sanford.

The Senate plan spends more than $1 billion in new money, including dollars for more highway patrol officers, raises for state employees and money to track those guilty of sex crimes.

It also spends about $80 million more than the state currently is projected to collect in revenues.

Senate Finance chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, said state economists could add millions to what currently is projected to be available. The Board of Economic Advisors, which canceled a Thursday meeting, is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss state revenues.

"We're having a very good year with revenue," Leatherman said. "I don't know what the BEA will do ... it could be a significant amount of money."

The Senate will begin debating the budget the week of April 24. A range of differences with a House-passed spending plan will be worked out after that.

The loudest voice against the Senate plan was Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, and a candidate for state treasurer, who said the bill had more pork than a hog farm.

"A billion dollars!" Ryberg said. "That's obscene."

Gov. Mark Sanford criticized the plan's size as well, noting the Senate gave no money back to taxpayers.

"Every taxpayer in the state should be disappointed," said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer.

Leatherman defended what he called essential budget projects, but he said some items ultimately will be bargaining chips to reach a final compromise plan with the House. Rules require a plan somewhere between the House and Senate numbers.

Overall, the Senate plan earmarks $294.4 million more for education-related programs, or $25.3 million more than the House-passed increase.

Among the biggest item added was $23.5 million to fund schooling for state four-year-olds. The House included $6 million for that.

The plan also includes millions for Midlands projects, among them:

-- $5 million for an observatory, planetarium and theater at the State Museum

-- $1 million for Columbia streetscaping

-- $675,000 for Midlands Community Health Center

-- $250,000 each for water and sewer projects in Lexington and Kershaw counties

-- $200,000 for a Columbia business incubator

-- $100,000 for work on Hard Scrabble Road

In addition, there is money for the Cayce Museum, Randolph Cemetery and a police substation on Screaming Eagle Road in Richland County.

Reach O'Connor at (803) 771-8358.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The State (Columbia, S.C.)

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