"I think we did the best we could given what we had to work with," said Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester.

"Let's say I'm 85 percent pleased," said Rep. Herb Kirsh, D-Clover.

Kirsh and others hope Gov. Mark Sanford will veto those items they don't approve of, such as $200,000 for a hot air balloon festival in Anderson and $380,000 for a college football bowl game in Charleston.

Kirsh also doesn't like $775,000 for a culinary arts program at Charles-ton's Trident Technical College or $5 million to renourish the beach at Hunting Island State Park.

The governor has until midnight tonight to make his line-item vetoes before the budget is returned to legislators. Vetoed items that lawmakers want to keep must be approved individually by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate.

Most legislators anticipate being done in time for their scheduled adjournment June 3.

Short is happy the budget gives state employees a 3 percent wage increase but was disappointed state employee insurance costs will increase $38 per month.

Per-pupil spending went up from about $1,770 per student to $1,852, but it's still below the recommended $2,200-plus, she said.

Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, was pleased more money was put in a recurring fund for Medicaid and that annual salaries for teachers will be $300 above the Southeastern average.

But Hayes and others are not happy about $380,000 budgeted for the Palmetto Bowl, a football game proposed between an Atlantic Coast Conference team and a Conference USA team to be played at The Citadel.

The original request was for $700,000, and the money won't be given if a contract for the game is not signed. If the contract comes through, the game will stay in the budget for 15 years to the tune of $5.7 million.

"I'm not voting for any money for any football game," Kirsh said. "I don't think taxpayers ought to be paying for that."

Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, hopes Sanford vetoes the game.

"The Palmetto Bowl is a good thing overall but not a good thing for this year's budget," he said. "The veto pen is a grand opportunity for the governor."

He preferred increasing the number of state troopers and raise their wages 9 percent.

"In a tight budget year, every item should be scrutinized," Simrill said.

Other extras in the budget include $200,000 for a new nursing program at Francis Marion University, $400,000 for the Waddell Mariculture Center, $465,000 for the Lowcountry Graduate Center and $50,000 for a drug court in Spartanburg.

Extras slip in every year, though not as many this year, Short said. The budget includes no money for similar projects locally because no requests were made, area legislators said.

"People in York County realize the tenuous time the state is in with the budget," Simrill said.

Area constituents must not feel slighted or they'd be complaining, Hayes said, adding most are hoping for a bond bill in the next few years to pay for new buildings.

But with revenue outlooks picking up, Short said she plans to get in line next year.

"I'm going to get my hand out like the rest of my colleagues," said Short, who represents York, Chester, Fairfield and Union counties. "I fully intend to get some money next year for all my counties."

Sula Pettibon • 329-4033

spettibon@heraldonline.com