Senate Finance Committee Passes Lean Budget Eliminates $30 Million in Special Projects – Education Top Priority
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
THE SENATE
For Immediate Release
April 3, 2008
Senate Finance Committee Passes Lean Budget Eliminates $30 Million in Special Projects – Education Top Priority
Columbia, SC – The Senate Finance Committee today completed budget discussions that clearly demonstrate education is a top priority. The
$7 billion budget fully funds the Education Finance Act, maintains the school bus replacement program, and continues four-year-old kindergarten among other priorities.
“The Senate had to bite the bullet and eliminate special projects from the budget and as a result I think we have a very responsible appropriations bill,” says Senate Finance Chairman Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence). Based on warning signals from the Board of Economic Advisors the Senate budget process started with $50 million less than the House budget.
Details of the budget include funding the Education Finance Act with
$2,578 per student, replacing 551 school buses this year as part of the 15-year cycle program, funding teacher salaries at $300 above the Southeastern average, and provides a 2% pay raise for other state employees.
Money from the SC Education Lottery was used to fully fund Life, Hope and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships eliminating the need to use money from the general fund. The Senate version of the budget also provides continued funding to four-year-old kindergarten programs in 35 school districts.
“The budget process required tough decisions, but I think we have achieved a pork-free budget that is lean yet balanced and reflects the reality of the state’s economy,” says Senate Finance Vice-Chairman Senator Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee).
The Finance Committee eliminated more than $30 million in special projects some of which had been in the budget for years. State agencies received an average 3.6% cut in funding.
“This year we had to tighten our belts, but as the economy improves we will restore funding to agencies that felt the effects of our current economic environment,” says Senator Leatherman.
###
