It took Gov. Mark Sanford only a few minutes to
renew his driver's license at the sparsely populated North Charleston
Department of Motor Vehicles on Thursday, but the governor claimed long
lines could return to DMVs across the state if the Legislature gets its
way.
Contradicting the governor, supporters of a bill that would transfer $8
million from the DMV to the Department of Transportation said money from
the general fund would keep waits short for South Carolina motorists.
Sanford made his stop in North Charleston as part of a trip across the
state to pitch his ideas about the budget. During a press conference,
Sanford criticized the House bill that would shift money collected from
various DMV fees to the Transportation Department's Non-Federal Aid
Highway Fund for road improvement and maintenance.
"It's a line change (to the budget)," Sanford said. "And it will be a
line change all right, a long line change out this door and all DMVs over
the state."
Sanford said improvements made by the recently reformed DMV, including
a reduction in wait time to an average of 15 minutes and Saturday office
hours, could be lost if the bill passed.
"A loss in this revenue will cut to the heart of our services," said
Marsha Adams, director of the DMV.
Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, however, said the DMV won't lose any
money.
"He doesn't understand what we're doing," said Harrell, who sponsors
the bill with more than 50 representatives.
Harrell, chairman of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, said
the money taken from DMV will be replaced with money from the general
fund. The purpose for directing DMV money to the Transportation
Department, he said, is to put the money directly in the hands of those
who will improve roads rather than politicians.
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| ALAN
HAWES/STAFF |
| Marsha
Tyce takes a photo of Governor Mark Sanford as he renews his
drivers license Thursday at the Leeds Ave Department of Motor
Vehicles, where he gave a news conference on budget issues.
| |
"This is a way to provide road maintenance without raising taxes,"
Harrell said.
Sanford, however, said the DMV already has agreed to return $12 million
to the general fund because of new efficiencies.
Sanford said he feared the DMV would not receive adequate funds from
the general fund like some agencies in the past, although he did not
specify which agencies.
"It would be a valid concern if we weren't replacing that $8 million,"
Harrell said.
Sanford has not offered an alternative solution to improving roads,
Harrell said, and should either do so or support the bill.
"We'll be talking about replacing roads and bridges in the future
rather than repairing them if this doesn't pass," Harrell said.