SLED relies on federal funds to protect homeland

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- As South Carolina's budget crisis continues, the State Law Enforcement Division is relying more heavily on federal money for its mission to protect the state against terrorism.

The South Carolina House approved a spending plan that includes $27.4 million in state dollars for SLED. But the agency is using about $24 million in federal grants for equipment and training to prevent terrorism, SLED Chief Robert Stewart said.

"That's keeping us open," Stewart said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

South Carolina also will benefit from the $74.7 billion emergency spending plan proposed by President George W. Bush this week. That includes about $2 billion for state homeland defense programs, Stewart said.

Of that, about $450 million would be set aside to help states cover the expenses incurred during Operation Liberty Shield, which includes increasing security at the nation's borders, airports, seaports and railways, at nuclear and chemical plants and around elements of the nation's food supply and distribution system.

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.  Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge asked states to deploy National Guard troops or extra state police to help.

The federal funding would help pay for overtime for agents who are helping to keep the state safe during wartime, Stewart said.

"Secretary Ridge asked that we move forward and do what needed to be done and then he would do anything in his power in getting federal funds back to cover it," Stewart said.

SLED has spent three-quarters of a million dollars this past year just on salaries in the counterterrorism effort, Stewart said.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman says the amount set aside for states in the president's package will not stretch far. "It sounds like a lot of money but it's really not when you distribute it to the 50 states and the various jurisdictions. When it gets down to the local level, it's really not a lot of dollars for those people."

SLED will get "significant priority" when the Senate begins debating the state budget in the coming weeks, said Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens.

When Stewart lays out the budget needs for SLED, Leatherman says he will do everything he can to meet those needs.

"Protecting our people is our first priority," said Leatherman, R-Florence. "The chief has to have enough resources and manpower to make sure, as far as he can, that every person in this state is safe."

Stewart said he will ask the Senate to approve House-passed fee increases, including those for alcohol licenses and coin-operated machines like video games. The money generated from those fees will help pay for more agents and equipment.

If SLED does not get a certain amount of revenue from the fee increases, the agency will be $2 million in the red by July 1, Stewart said.

--From the Thursday, March 27, 2003 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle