 Sanford might close mansion_files/arcad.gif)
|
 Sanford might close mansion_files/brand.gif) |
||
 Sanford might close mansion_files/t.gif){kind=small} | ||
| Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003 |
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to the H-J | | ||||
|
| |||||||||
|
Posted on February 11, 2003 Sanford says he might shut down Governor's mansion The Associated Press Republican Gov. Mark Sanford says he might have to close the Gov.'s Mansion for four months because most of the mansion's budget has been spent by outgoing Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges. "There was a disregard for costs and disregard for who would be picking up the pieces after the administration left," Sanford said Tuesday. Sanford said he has to either close the mansion until June 30 or raise private money to cover operating costs like salaries for the 11 employees, utility bills and food. If the mansion closed, Sanford's family would continue to live in the private quarters but they wouldn't have a staff, and would cook their own meals. Hodges, who left office Jan. 15 to work for a consulting firm in Charlotte, N.C., transferred $100,000 from administrative and program funds to the mansion two days before he left office to cover the cost overruns. But Sanford said he won't use that money because it was intended for the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Commission on Women and the Review of Foster Care for Children. Hodges said Sanford comments were "misrepresentation of the facts" because it was standard practice by other governors to shift funds to cover costs at the mansion. "The mansion budget is never adequate," Hodges said. "On an annual basis you would have to tap into other fund sources. Hodges said it was especially difficult to cover costs at the mansion after he ended the practice of using inmates as butlers and maids in 2001, when guards were charged with allowing inmates to have sex in the Gov.'s Mansion complex. Hodges asked the General Assembly for $415,000 to cover the cost of additional employees after the scandal, but the Legislature gave half the request. The mansion's current budget is $435,058 and the Sanfords said $391,209 of that had been spent through Feb. 1. It would cost about $195,508 to keep the mansion at current staff and program levels, leaving a shortfall of $151,659. The governor says he's considering returning inmate labor to the mansion to help out next year's budget, but there isn't enough time to help this year. "Even if you swapped everybody out, put in inmate labor, given the amount of time that you have left, you will not produce material savings for the rest of the year," Sanford said. Sanford said he met with the mansion staff last week and warned of the shortfalls. First Lady Jenny Sanford, a former investment banker, has been studying the household accounts and said she can't make the payroll due next week. The Sanfords said they are considering three options. They could close the first floor of the mansion, which has formal dining rooms and hall of governors portraits, or accept $71,000 of the transferred money and raise $81,000 privately, or just raise $151,000 privately. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, said he hoped Sanford would not close the mansion, but sees no likelihood that the Legislature would approve special funding to keep it open. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said he would support Sanford raising money to keep it open. Harrell also said he supports Sanford's idea to restrict the budget of the governor's office and mansion so that no more than one-fourth of the budget can be spent during a three-month period. Former Republican Gov. David Beasley, who lost his re-election bid to Hodges in 1998, said the mansion was critical during his tenure for recruiting business. "What Mark's got to realize is that it isn't just his residence," the former governor said. "I think the governor's got to do what is necessary to keep it open." The mansion reopened in June after undergoing $6 million in renovations. It has had 25,000 visitors since. |
|
|
|
| |||||
|
All material ©2003 Spartanburg Herald-Journal | | |
| |||