| Sanford Releases Executive Budget |
| (Columbia-AP) -- Governor Mark Sanford
wants to reduce the number of state agencies and consolidate some of
their functions as he releases his state spending plan for the
coming fiscal year. Thursday afternoon, Sanford let the public in on how he wants to distribute funding in the state's $5.1 billion budget. The plan would reduce the number of state agencies from 87 to 72 by placing those such as the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School in West Columbia and John de la Howe School in McCormick under existing departments. The restructuring plan is expected to save $26 million. Sanford says his proposal would save an additional $82 million by making state government operate more efficiently. For example, he wants agencies to cut telephone and travel expenses by 15 percent. The plan would add almost $32 million to the amount the state gives schools to spend per student. However, the governor wants that money to come from lottery funds, and it's unclear if that's allowed under current state law. He wants to raise additional revenue by selling some state-owned real estate and much of the state's auto fleet. Sanford and lawmakers face a $350 million gap between expected revenues and the amount of money needed to keep existing programs running during the fiscal year that begins in July. Sanford held meetings with state agencies during the summer to map out his proposal, which now goes to the Legislature. Lawmakers return to the Statehouse Tuesday. |