Horry and Georgetown counties will benefit from tourism promotion funding in Gov. Mark Sanford's budget proposal released Thursday, but reaction to other parts of the plan was cooler.

Even so, two Horry County legislators who will be the first to tackle the spending proposal gave it good marks overall while saying they do not like the idea of raising cigarette taxes.

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, and Rep. Tom Keegan, R-Surfside Beach, especially applauded Sanford's plans to combine and reorganize a dozen agencies.

The budget proposal, which must survive legislative scrutiny before any of it becomes reality, upholds tourism spending and adds per-pupil funds for K-12 education. But it also eliminates funds for Coastal Carolina University's branch at Litchfield.

In his proposal, Sanford said tourism "is an economic engine that drives a significant portion of our state's economy."

That portion last year was $9.4 billion, about 7.9 percent of the gross state product, Sanford said.

The Grand Strand typically contributes about one-third of the state's tourism revenue.

His proposed budget includes $4 million more for the state Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department for tourism promotion, for a total of $11.8 million for marketing. The money allows the PRT department, the main promoter of tourism, to keep its current funding level.

The department likely will be able to spend more promoting tourism next budget year because of tweaking within the department and through cooperative advertising programs, PRT Director Chad Prosser said. The department's current total budget is $55 million, money that comes from the state, federal government and park revenues.

"[Investing in tourism] is one of the primary ways we can grow the economy," Prosser said. "And we're spending the money a lot smarter. We are doing a lot to be able to strengthen those dollars."

Locals were happy to hear the group's funding wasn't slashed in Sanford's plan.

"Given the climate of the state budget and the financial situation in Columbia, it is a victory," said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sanford also proposes to save $235,000 by eliminating Coastal Carolina University's planned branch at Litchfield, as well as the college's $60,000 for a paid lobbyist.

Coastal President Ron Ingle could not be reached Thursday for comment. Provost Pete Barr and spokesman Doug Bell referred questions to Ingle.

Sanford said the branch campus is an unneeded expansion and he is trying to foster consolidation of colleges and programs.

The governor's plan to raise base student spending $67, to $1,810, got a cautious welcome.

"That still doesn't bring us up to what we were prior to state budget cuts in 2001," said Harrell Hardwick, chief financial officer for Horry County Schools.

Top education leaders in Horry and Georgetown counties spent Thursday in meetings and had not reviewed Sanford's proposal, they said.

Albert Johnson, a representative of the Flue-Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corp., said Sanford's proposal to increase the state's cigarette tax came as a surprise.

"It's disappointing because the governor ran on a platform of no tax increases and no new taxes," Johnson said. "I think the governor is a brilliant guy, but I think he's getting bad advice from some people."

Sanford has been pushing the tobacco tax increase to pay for tax cuts since early last year.

Aside from the cigarette tax, Edge and Keegan said they think the plan's chances are good.

"Initially, I would expect there would be resistance because these are new ideas and concepts," Keegan said. "I will do everything I can to make his plan succeed."