COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Local governments will receive about $200,000 in state funds to fight potential base closings in South Carolina.

A new round of military cuts will be announced in May 2005 in the federal Base Realignment and Closure program.

The General Assembly appropriated $200,000 in state funds for fiscal year 2003-2004. The cities of Beaufort, Columbia and Sumter and Charleston County will receive $50,000 each to protect installations through studies or public relations efforts.

The Gov.'s Military Base Advisory Committee and the South Carolina Military Base Task Force have been studying ways to protect the state's military bases.

"Based on the judgment of these panels, I believe $200,000 is a worthwhile and entirely appropriate investment to help protect what is essentially a $4 billion industry in this state," said Gov. Mark Sanford. "What we're doing today is adding some old-fashioned capital to the intellectual capital we've assembled to protect South Carolina's military assets."