House District 24 Republican primary candidate William Herlong said Friday he would seek spending limits on state government to slow budgetary growth.

Herlong, a member of the Greenville County school board, said the first bill he would introduce would amend the state's constitution to create a formula limiting budget increases to population growth plus inflation. It would be subject to ratification by the voters.

"Fundamentally, government spending should not grow faster than taxpayers' ability to pay for the increases," he said. "Working South Carolinians, their families and thousands of small businesses are forced to live within this kind of limit, and so government must show the same restraint and discipline."

Herlong is one of four Republicans on Tuesday's GOP primary ballot for the seat vacated June 2 by David Wilkins when he became U.S. ambassador to Canada. The others are Bruce Bannister, Tom Ervin and Warren Mowry. The nominee will face Democrat Michelle Shain in the Oct. 4 special election.

"With property taxes rising through the roof, I believe folks are ready for some common sense in Columbia," Herlong said.

Mowry expressed agreement, saying that "throughout my campaign, I have outlined a number of innovative ideas that will enhance economic development and provide better paying jobs (and) have also pledged not to increase the overall tax burden."

Ervin said he also supports limits on government spending, but restated his belief that "voters want the automobile tax and property tax abolished, and that's what I intend to do if elected."

He has voiced support for ending or substantially reducing property taxes with the lost local revenue to be replaced by an increased sales tax.

Bannister did not comment.

Democrat Shain said, "No one wants to grow government, but we must invest in ourselves if we are to move South Carolina forward in the world economy. Our state constitution already requires that we have a balanced budget every year. That should be enough."