SLED deficit approved

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The governor, just back from two weeks of Air Force Reserve officer training, told SLED Chief Robert Stewart that while the military builds redundancies into battling terrorism, the state should be sure every security dollar that is spent is needed.

Sanford used a security officer assigned to the Statehouse grounds as an example.

"Is that a real deterrent to somebody trying to blow up the Capitol? I don't know," Sanford said. "I would ask you to really explore trimming back in some of those places because we're in just a world of hurt in terms of the budget."

SLED is the second agency to come before Sanford and other members of the State Budget and Control Board this year to approve a deficit. The board earlier this year approved a nearly $28 million deficit for the Department of Corrections.

Stewart said SLED is down 60 agents in the 400-agent force and has merged its alcohol and drug operations to save money. He said the agency is not doing much in narcotics work as a result of the budget. But he said he cannot cut anymore without seriously hindering local police agencies and the courts.

"We've tried to cut everywhere we possibly can," he said. "But there are some areas of SLED that if we cut, the criminal justice system just can't function."

Stewart said his agency is trying to be realistic in its security measures. But he said the public now expects added security at public functions since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"We're trying not to overreact," he said. "But at the same time we don't want to underreact."

Congress has approved $9 million for South Carolina in homeland security expenses, Stewart said. But much of that must be split with local law enforcement and is restricted in how the money can be spent. The money can't be used, Stewart said, to hire new agents or buy vehicles or other "ordinary" law enforcement expenses.

He said a supplemental bill now in congressional debate would grant the agency money to pay for all its expenses required in response to a recent increased security alert as the nation prepared for war.

Also on Tuesday, the Board approved the salaries of four new cabinet officers: $101,185 for Lee Catoe of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Services; $124,689 for Jon Ozmint, director of corrections; $103,000 for Chad Prosser, director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; and $111,127 for John Frampton, director for the Department of Natural Resources.