News and Press Releases for February 2007

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2/05/2007

Gov. Sanford Urges Citizens to Call for DOT Reform

Governor Says Residents Need to Make Voices Heard as House, Senate Consider Proposals for Reform

Columbia, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford today traveled to auto shops in Greer, Rock Hill and Florence, urging citizens to "pick up a wrench" and work for change by calling their local legislators to voice their concerns on the need to reform the S.C. Department of Transportation.

A November audit found a number of problems at the state DOT, including overpaying by tens of millions of dollars for contracts, purposeful manipulation of account balances, and violating state law on hiring practices for temporary employees. All told, the report found more than $50 million wasted by the agency that could have been used for infrastructure needs in South Carolina.

"What's been made clear in the recent audit and in numerous articles since then is that the current structure at the DOT has failed the taxpayers of this state," Gov. Sanford said. "Bringing real accountability and structural reform to this agency will be one of our top priorities during this session, and I'd applaud the focus that House and Senate leaders have already put toward that end. But to move reform past the finish line, it's going to mean people across South Carolina -- who care about infrastructure and how their tax dollars are being spent - continuing to make their voices heard on the need for reform at the DOT."

In 47 other states, the Department of Transportation is accountable directly to the Executive Branch - with South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi being the exception. In 41 of these states, the governor appoints a transportation director, and in the remaining six states the governor appoints the entire commission.

A proposal under consideration in the Senate and another being formulated in the House would create a "hybrid" structure, with a board and with a director appointed by the governor. Only two states - Nevada and Ohio - currently have a structure in which the governor appoints an Executive Director as well as members of a transportation board.