AIKEN - A proposed $27.7 million boost to South Carolina's public safety budget could translate into more state troopers on the road - including in Aiken County.

If Gov. Mark Sanford's budget is approved, it would continue to undo the damage done to the highway patrol's ranks, which dwindled in the past decade because of tight state finances.

"It's bringing us closer to where we should be," said Sid Gaulden, a spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, which includes the highway patrol. "We're not there yet, but the governor has been very kind to public safety."

Mr. Sanford's proposed 2007-08 budget includes $27.7 million for law enforcement, and another $49.7 million for one-time costs such as equipment and buildings.

The money would pay for 100 new state troopers. According to Mr. Sanford's office, that would bring the highway patrol's ranks up to an all-time high.

Joel Sawyer, a spokesman for Mr. Sanford, said that historically, state legislators have supported efforts to increase funding for law enforcement.

"The highway patrol, like a lot of state agencies, suffered for a number of years from across-the-board budget cuts," Mr. Sawyer said. "We certainly see the need to put more troopers on the road. But it will take some time to get them back to ideal numbers."

Mr. Gaulden said if 100 new state troopers are funded, then they likely will be added to the state's seven troops in two waves - with approximately 50 new officers in each of two graduating classes.

Where the troopers end up depends on where the greatest need for new officers are, he said. The state has a formula that determines which area is understaffed based on how many officers are there and how many calls they answer.

Aiken County has 22 state troopers, he said.

"I would think it would be safe to say that - based on how troopers are needed statewide - that additional troopers are needed in Aiken also," Mr. Gaulden said.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is responsible for traffic enforcement and responds to most motor vehicle wrecks.

Studies have shown the state has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the country - 1,020 people have died on South Carolina roads through the end of Thursday in 2006, 69 fewer than the year before - and experts say more troopers on the road would help reduce that.

But the number of troopers in the state dropped for several years because of money. In fact, the agency went two years before graduating a new class of officers in 2005.

Since then, the ranks have been slowly replenished, with a new class of 53 graduating in early December. One of the new troopers has been assigned to Aiken County.

Mr. Gaulden said the newest graduates will begin training in January.

Also included in Mr. Sanford's funding proposal is money for officers in other state law enforcement agencies, including the department of juvenile justice and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.