(Columbia) Feb. 12, 2003 - Republican Governor Mark Sanford says he might close the Governor's Mansion for four months because most of the mansion's budget was been spent by former Democratic Governor Jim Hodges.

Sanford says he has to either close the mansion until June 30 or raise private money to cover operating costs like utiltity bills, food and salaries for the 11 employees. If the mansion is closed, Sanford's family would continue to live in the private quarters, but wouldn't have a staff and would cook their own meals.

Governor Sanford is exploring ways to keep the mansion open, but at this point nothing has been decided, "I was talking to my wife Jenny this morning. I mean we've just got through cutting half the operational spending at the mansion for the remainder of the year, cutting staff by 20%."

Hodges left office January 15th to work for a consulting firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. He transferred $100,000 from administrative and program funds to the mansion's budget two days before he left office to cover the cost overruns. Sanford says the money was intended for the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Commission on Women and the Review of Foster Care for Children. Sanford says he won't use that money for the mansion.

Hodges says Sanford is misrepresenting the facts and the mansion budget alone is never enough to cover operating expenses. Hodges says it's typical to tap into other fund sources to pad the budget each year.

Governor Sanford has said that he plans to ask the legislature to pass a spending bill similar to the one used at the White House. It would only allow the governor to spend the mansion's budget money in three month intervals.

updated 8:03am by  Chris Rees with AP