Governor's proposal for more troopers is welcome news

December 16, 2004

Gov. Mark Sanford wants to fund an additional 100 State Highway Patrol troopers next year, dedicating nearly $32 million to the departments of Public Safety, Corrections and Juvenile Justice, and another one-time influx of $22 million to those three agencies for equipment, facilities and maintenance.

Since South Carolina has an abysmal record when it comes to traffic fatalities, especially those connected to driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol, this comes as good news, particularly this time of year when we are in the midst of a heavy travel period. Published reports of the proposal note that a study released just this week places our state fifth in the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths.

Some of the new troopers could begin a class after the money is authorized by the Legislature when the session opens in January. But there is one snag - the increases in money don't translate to increases in salary for existing troopers, a point House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, says is one of the "specifics" that needs discussion. He agrees with addressing the issue of troopers, however, and we heartily agree that putting more troopers on our highways would serve as a deterrent to drivers who would travel carelessly or impaired.

Safety experts agree that dangers on our roads can be partially the result of cuts to the public safety budget that resulted in an 18 percent decrease in the number of patrol officers since 2000, from 961 troopers to 788.

Yet another bump in the road may be where the money would come from. The governor wants to use anticipated revenues, but critics allow that the money should be dedicated to education and health care. He also said he will be "putting every agency under a microscope to find potential cost savings."

The governor rightly notes that law enforcement is central to "a civilized society" and we are encouraged that he recognizes the need for additional public safety officers. We also agree with Mr. Wilkins that those who protect the public are generally grossly underpaid.

But like all good ideas (and admittedly, some not-so-good ones), this one takes money, which takes the legislature's approval. The relationship between the governor and the legislature hasn't been a particularly congenial one; it may have been more beneficial with regard to his ideas getting needed support to present a more concrete proposal on funding before making the grand announcement about the plan itself.

But we find no fault with his intent; the governor is thinking of the safety of South Carolinians in this budget proposal.

And we hope that in January you'll be reading our editorial welcoming the new class of future state patrol troopers as they begin their studies.

Copyright 2004, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.