(Columbia) -- Governor David M. Beasley today outlined an Executive Budget that will help South Carolina make historic strides in education and continue the state's record-breaking economic engine humming - without money from video poker.
The Governor refused to include money from video poker fees in his $4.3 billion budget because he will ask the Legislature to ban the game as of June 1999. The state collects $61 million in video poker license fees.
"I pledged in January 1995 to put families first ... that government's job now was to make it easier for parents to raise their children and for families to find prosperity and happiness. In my opinion, allowing video poker to continue violates the covenant I made with South Carolinians," the Governor said.
"Video poker is a cancer on South Carolina, and plastic surgery is no cure. We must remove this cancer - and now," Governor Beasley added.
The Governor's budget invests an additional $270 million in education: $168 million in K-12 and $101 in higher education. These investments are targeted at teachers, parents and the classroom, where improvements matter most.
The budget includes $15 million to implement the landmark Performance and Accountability Standards for Schools (PASS) Commission report. PASS, appointed last year by the Governor, recommended grade-by-grade, rigorous, back-to-basic standards for South Carolina students in math, science, English and social studies.
The Governor's budget also includes $18 million for the Palmetto Life Incentive For Education (LIFE) Scholarship, which the Governor and state House of Representatives leaders announced last month.
"From kindergarten to college - we are paving the way for academic achievement - not with quick fixes or gimmicks, but with responsible financial management," Governor Beasley said.
Other education items include:
Money so all 10th graders can take preparatory exams for the SAT or the American College Test (ACT).
A 98 percent increase in funding for instructional materials, including textbooks.
A $4 million recurring item for 62 buses, with the goal of setting up a rotation schedule to replace the state's aging fleet.
Money for an expanded teacher evaluation program, which helps teachers put professional development to work in the classroom.
Increased money for school technology, which helps wire classrooms for the Internet and allows for more long-distance learning.
Once again, the Governor's Executive Budget keeps the state's promise with taxpayers, adding $45.4 million in additional tax relief. Governor Beasley proposed increasing the income tax exemption for senior citizens from $11,500 to $13,000 annually. The Governor also maintains the property tax relief for homeowners at $100,000 per residence.
The Governor's Executive Budget also includes $2 million to test for bacteria in coastal waters. "By closely monitoring our water, we not only ensure our physical health but the health of our economy which thrives on tourism dollars, especially along our coast," the Governor said.
Governor Beasley also proposed $6.5 million for the Division of Motor Vehicles to upgrade its computer system and add employees. This money should help the division with much-needed improvements and help the agency become more customer-friendly.