COLUMBIA, S.C. - A panel appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford to examine the state's budget processes on Monday produced several recommendations - not all of which the new governor may like.

The Budget Policy Task Force was assembled to offer ideas to Sanford about how to handle budgeting as he took office. "There isn't a more important issue in state government today than the state budget," said Sanford, who said he had not read the entire report.

One recommendation would end the practice of the governor presenting a budget to the General Assembly each year. The governor should offer legislators "a statement of priorities goals and objectives for the state," not a detailed accounting document, the 16-member task force said.

"I think in the budget the devil's oftentimes, indeed, in the details," Sanford said.

"It's important to get an insight into where the executive branch sees those details falling as opposed to leaving it wholly to the legislative branch," he said. "So, I respectfully disagree on that one."

Other recommendations from the panel include:

_ Opening a debate, led by Sanford, on increasing user fees.

_ Barring use of most reserve funds to cover deficits.

_ Changing the state constitution to force governors to balance the budget after vetoes.

_ Forcing agencies to justify spending from the ground up every year rather than only having to gain approval for new programs. Agencies that perform their functions well would be rewarded for improvements.

_ Barring the three-member state Board of Economic Advisors from increasing revenue projections after Feb. 15 in order to lessen potential political pressure later in the year.

With projections, "no matter how good you are in this process, you are going to be wrong," said Hunter Howard, a task force member and chief executive of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, the governor, the House Ways and Means chairman and the Senate Finance chairman each appoint one member of the BEA.

Sanford wants politics removed from BEA, but his panel said if the board followed existing rules with minor changes that it would operate better.

The group is "suggesting if we just get the right guys in office then they'll do right," Sanford said. "You may get the right guys sometimes. You may get the wrong guys sometimes."

Another recommendation would have state agencies consolidated into five areas:

_ Business relationships, such as the Insurance and Revenue Departments.

_ Family, such as the departments of Mental Health, Education and Social Services.

_ Criminal justice, for law enforcement agencies.

_ Land, for the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department and the Department of Natural Resources.

_ Operational agencies, such as the Budget and Control Board.