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Gov. Mark Sanford proposes to sell all excess and unnecessary state-owned property, including the State Ports Authority land in Port Royal, the State Mental Hospital and several other parcels of land, to help balance the state budget while retaining important services to South Carolinians.
Retaining, and improving where possible, important services and curtailing activities at a port that is losing money is a noble goal. Rushing to sell the land in Port Royal and spending part of the proceeds to balance the budget may not be.
As columnist Scott Graber writes on the Commentary Page today, Port Royal Town Council and residents have a vision for their community. That vision doesn't necessarily include transforming its waterfront to resemble Hilton Head Island. On the acreage that now supports port and private enterprise, residents may want a town that offers more than just property taxes from affluent homeowners. Council and residents may develop a vision that includes businesses that could offer economic opportunity to young people growing up in the town. They may want parks so that everyone can enjoy a water view. But they don't know exactly what they want yet.
Whatever the Ports Authority does, if it doesn't include the desires of Port Royal residents, it could alter the face of the town and residents' vision of their community forever.
The Ports Authority could use a portion of the revenue from a sale to help finance port expansion in Charleston. Selling an asset for another asset may be a wise investment. But if a portion of revenue from a potential sale of property goes to finance government operations, elected officials will have resumed a troublesome practice, the use of non-recurring funds to finance government programs.
As the Ports Authority and lawmakers review plans for these the sale of assets, these are a few ideas they should keep in mind.
