Education is clear priority in South Carolina

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Jim Barker and Bob Faith: New Clemson auto research park signals a turn in state's economy (11/12/03) • Wesley K. Clark: Our country is leaving its soldiers, veterans behind (11/11/03) • John Dickerson: Veterans Day reminds us to cherish our soldiers (11/10/03) • Roger W. Chastain: Bush has ignored textile industry's plight (11/10/03) • George A. Baker III: Honor the birthday of the Marine Corps this Veterans Day (11/09/03) More details Lewis R. Vaughn, R-Greer, is a retired businessman who represents House District 18 in the General Assembly. He chairs the Greenville County Legislative Delegation, the House Operations and Management Committee and serves on the budget-making Ways and Means Committee.

Discussing education funding in a vacuum is far too simplistic. As we all know, life is more complex than that. Education has been a priority of this legislative delegation both in the amount of funds the state has supplied and the focus on education through greater accountability.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Hyde attempts to "wow!" the reader with scary stores of dramatic tax cuts. He refers to "$3 billion in tax relief." Some perspective is needed.

The total education budget for the same period was nearly $14 billion and the total state budget was $39 billion! The truth is that the tax relief provided by the General Assembly is a mere pittance when compared to the state's budget. The share of tax relief as a percentage of the budget went from 2 percent in 1995 to 8 percent today.

Despite low inflation, state government has grown at a shocking rate. Regrettably, Hyde failed to specify the two tax breaks he rails against: the tax break on the homes of the aged, blind and disabled and the tax break on your primary residence up to $100,000. The regrettable part is that the General Assembly had to cap the primary residential property tax relief in part due to difficult budget times. Tax relief was the right thing to do then and that has not changed.

Spending and taxing decisions are done with an eye to providing the best possible environment for all of our citizens. The decision to provide property tax relief allowed families and the elderly to retain more of their income to secure necessities such as food and housing rather than to fund the needs of the education establishment. We have attempted to foster a business climate that would provide parents with jobs enabling them to earn a living to support their families. In my view, it is fortunate that we, as policymakers, have not lost sight of the balance that must be struck among all members of our society. I will not apologize for that!

While our state has fared better than most states during this national economic decline, it has still sustained substantial losses in both jobs and wealth. The state's primary sources of revenue (sales and income tax) have been dramatically reduced. Hyde notes how we have "brutally" cut other agencies. The disproportionate degree of cuts to these agencies has been to protect education.

So what would he have us do? He speaks hopefully about raising cigarette and liquor taxes. Aside from the unfairness of taxing a minority because you don't like what they do, let's look at the facts. Suppose that we raised the tax on cigarettes to the national average of 73 cents per pack. That would bring in about $206 million that could be appropriated in one year. Every year the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services (Medicaid) request hundreds of millions of dollars in inflation and program increases. This year alone, the Department of Education requested an additional $472.5 million in state funds.

The only honest way to do what Hyde wants is to impose a substantial general tax increase and eliminate property tax relief. That is the worst possible action. It removes money from the economy and hurts families. What is required is strict control of the budget for all of state government.

But this is not so much about percentages and numbers. The question is "How much is enough?" These past few years have been hard, but I really doubt if most math, English, science and other core disciplines will fail to be taught.

Put simply, it is the task of the General Assembly to make decisions that best provide for the well being of the citizens of our state. This includes ensuring that children receive the best possible education. However, it does not mean that we should concentrate on funding some arbitrary dollar amount in public education as a substitute for our true goals just to curry favor with editorial writers.

If you ardently feel that we need to raise your taxes, then you need to contact your legislator. If you don't want them raised, then also call. I have been hearing the message loud and clear, do not raise my taxes.