State highway commissioners approved a controversial new policy Thursday that would force local governments, instead of the state Department of Transportation, to provide their own "match money" if they receive federal funds for road projects without the knowledge and approval of the commissioners.

The new policy, similar in scope to policies being enacted by state transportation departments nationwide, comes in response to South Carolina transportation officials recently learning that the state would receive roughly $100 million less annually in federal transportation funds during the next few years - $517 million instead of the anticipated $620 million.

There are two reasons: Congress approved less money overall, and a substantial amount of what was approved was handed out as earmarks, or money for specific projects.

Federal money also is allocated based on the amount of money collected through state gas taxes, and gas tax revenue was also not as high as anticipated.

Because federal earmarks don't come free of charge - each earmark requires a 20 percent match - state transportation officials are in the position of providing the match money for projects that were not directly submitted as "high priority projects" by the Transportation Department.

The commissioners said they didn't even know about some of the projects that will receive federal earmarks.

"It's controversial, but it's the right thing to do," said Tee Hooper, chairman of the State Highway Commission. "We need earmarks to marry in with our statewide planning."

Eight local projects could be affected by the new policy, and not all commissioners believed it was a good idea for the state to require local governments now to pay for something that has historically been the state's job.

"It's a hard-nosed attitude, and a fight we don't need to pick," said Commissioner Bob Harrell.

Harrell was one of two commissioners who voted against the new policy.

Michael Covington, Transportation Department director of administration, said communities that recently passed local sales tax increases to pay for road projects should not have a problem finding local match money. That includes Charleston and Dorchester counties.

As it stands, the state is expected to receive $275 million in earmarks during the next five years.

That includes 26 projects statewide, including local projects such as the extension of the Glenn McConnell Parkway, a new ramp from the Glenn McConnell onto Interstate 526, and the widening of U.S. Highway 17 in Beaufort and Colleton counties.

Reach Jessica VanEgeren at (843)-937-5562 or jvanegeren@postandcourier.com.