Speaking before the Beaufort Rotary Club at the Ramada Limited on Boundary Street, Sanford wouldn't unveil his intentions for the proposed 20 percent cap, a measure that would reduce the tax burden on some property owners who recently received reassessed property values for the first time in six years.
"As a landowner in Beaufort County, on a personal level I'd love to see it," Sanford, whose family owns land in northern Beaufort County, said before his speech. "(But) I'd like to see it done through a constitutional construct."
Sanford has largely remained silent on whether he plans to approve or veto the cap, which passed the General Assembly in June, keeping residents and local governments in limbo regarding this year's tax collections.
County officials have said local governments could face a budget shortfall of as much as $40 million if the cap passes. The cap would require governments to offer some people tax refunds without being able to raise taxes for some people to make up the difference.
Sanford's constitutional questions revolve around the way the Senate approved the legislation, using a two-thirds majority voice vote, and that the legislation would make property taxes not fully reflective of property's fair market value as outlined in the state constitution.
If the governor doesn't sign the legislation it will automatically become law when the legislature reconvenes in January. If he vetoes the plan it is believed the legislature will have the votes necessary to override the veto.
Prior to his speech Wednesday, the governor discussed a number of local issues such as road funding in light of the failed 1 cent sales tax referendum and the development of the Port Royal and Jasper County ports.
"We will not endorse raising the gas tax without reforming the system," Sanford said, referring to the state's primary source of money for road projects.
Suggestions have been made to raise the tax to help pay for state road projects, especially in the case of the Lowcountry, which is the fastest growing area of the state.
But Sanford echoed the calls of several other state Republicans who say raising the tax won't help meet the desired goal if the money isn't being split up correctly.
The state's gas tax -- at 16 cents a gallon and more than 5 cents lower than the national average -- is fifth-lowest in the nation.
With current allocation procedures, "We send money to places where there isn't a need," said Sanford, describing empty four-lane roads throughout the state.
The governor also said he hopes to move forward with the redevelopment of the Port of Port Royal.
Sanford recently signed legislation requiring state officials to shutter the Port Royal facility by the end of 2006.
He also said he supports development of a new port on the Savannah River in Jasper County.
"I'm behind the Jasper County port as long as it's a free enterprise operation," said Sanford.
During his formal speech before the Rotary Sanford quickly outlined a five-point reform plan for the state and began by calling for the state Department of Commerce to be better suited for dealing with small businesses to complement their proclivity for handling large out-of state or international corporations.
"We're really a state of small businesses," he said.
The governor also mentioned his desires to reform state senate rules, tort law, the education system, and government structures, noting improvements in the state Department of Motor Vehicles as an example of increasing government efficiency.
Sanford voiced frustration with Senate procedures, which he said derail too many ideas.
"Right now there is the capacity in the Senate for a single Senator to stop a bill," he said. "If I were to veto that bill, I would hear about it in loud and painful terms."