COLUMBIA, S.C. - Republican Gov. Mark Sanford says he might have to close the Gov.'s Mansion for four months because most of the mansion's budget has been spent by outgoing Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges.

Sanford said he has to either close the mansion until June 30 or raise private money to cover operating costs like salaries for the 11 employees, utility bills and food.

If the mansion closed, Sanford's family would continue to live in the private quarters but they wouldn't have a staff, and would cook their own meals.

Hodges, who left office Jan. 15 to work for a consulting firm in Charlotte, N.C., transferred $100,000 from administrative and program funds to the mansion two days before he left office to cover the cost overruns.

But Sanford said that money was intended for the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Commission on Women and the Review of Foster Care for Children. Sanford said he won't use that money for the mansion.

"I take, in some ways, a Draconian view," Sanford told The (Columbia) State newspaper. "We don't have the money, we shut it down."

Hodges could not be reached for comment Monday by the newspaper. But his former chief of staff, Billy Boan, said the mansion has been underfunded by the General Assembly - especially since Hodges ended the practice of using inmates as butlers and maids after a sex scandal at the mansion.

The mansion's budget is $435,058 and the Sanfords said $391,209 of that had been spent through Feb. 1. It would cost about $195,508 to keep the mansion at current staff and program levels, leaving a shortfall of $151,659.

Sanford said he met with the mansion staff last week and warned of the shortfalls. First Lady Jenny Sanford, a former investment banker, has been studying the household accounts and said she can't make the payroll due next week.

Former Republican Gov. David Beasley, who lost his re-election bid to Hodges in 1999, said the mansion was critical during his tenure for recruiting business.

"I know what Mark's thinking, that this is my house and I'm willing to sacrifice and suffer," Beasley said.

"What Mark's got to realize is that it isn't just his residence," the former governor said. "I think the governor's got to do what is necessary to keep it open."

The mansion reopened in June after undergoing $6 million in renovations. It has had 25,000 visitors since.

The mansion used inmate labor until 2001, when guards were charged with allowing inmates to have sex in the Gov.'s Mansion complex. Hodges asked the General Assembly for $415,000 to cover the cost of additional employees after the scandal, but the Legislature gave half the request.

The Sanfords said they are considering three options. They could close the first floor of the mansion, which has formal dining rooms and hall of governors portraits, or accept $71,000 of the transferred money and raise $81,000 privately, or just raise $151,000 privately.

Information from: The State