Gov. Sanford: Tax Day a Reminder
to Put First Things First in Budget

GOVERNOR ISSUES REMINDER TO SENATE TO LOOK OUT FOR TAXPAYERS BY SETTING PRIORITIES

Columbia, S.C. - April 15, 2008 - As people across South Carolina filed their taxes today, Governor Mark Sanford issued a reminder to the Senate to keep present and future taxpayers in mind as they contemplate the state budget.

Today the Senate begins debate on its spending plan that makes across the board cuts to agencies without regard to priorities. Among those are cuts to the Department of Commerce and to tourism marketing efforts - both key to the state's ability to attract new industry and tourists. As well, the budget takes nearly $100 million from a Medicaid reserve fund, and cuts the Department of Corrections' already lowest in the nation expenditure per inmate. In addition, the budget does little to address South Carolina's $20 billion in unfunded political promises made to its retirees - a cost that will be passed on to future generations of taxpayers.

"In simplest form, these budget cuts are due to spending too much when times are good - in this case growing spending by 40 percent over the past few years - and not putting more away for a rainy day, which is something that's not good for taxpayers, and not good for people served by government,"; Gov. Sanford said. "As well, cutting across the board isn't the way families and small businesses do things, and it isn't the way state government should operate either. I think the Senate has an opportunity to make better choices when it comes to this budget and recognize that all programs aren't created equally. As well, I'd urge them to again look closely at the idea of limiting spending when times are good, so that the state doesn't continue to find itself in this situation every few years."

Yesterday, the governor called on budget writers to adopt the following three proposals to begin addressing budget cuts in high-priority areas:

-Shut down once and for all the legislative slush fund known as the 'Competitive Grants'; program, freeing up $18.5 million.

-Use the GEAR Commission recommendation to tap $10.5 million from the Budget and Control Board's $323 million 'rainy day' funds.

-Defer a $20.5 million proposal to create regional farmers markets around the state.