Gov. Mark Sanford's proposed state budget may have problems, like raising cigarette taxes to pay for an income tax cut, but otherwise the $5.1 billion plan definitely has legs, legislative leaders said Friday.

In the past, governor's budgets have been largely ignored or looked upon simply as a measure of the chief executive's priorities.

This one, said Bobby Harrell, chairman of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, is different.

"This budget is a very thorough, complete document unlike anything we've seen from governors in a long time," Harrell, R-Charleston, said.

"I believe this year we'll actually use his budget as our starting point."

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, also gave the 300-page document high praise.

"I applaud Governor Sanford for writing a workable, pragmatic budget that includes both bold changes and real solutions for meeting our state's fiscal responsibilities," he said.

As the leader of the House, Wilkins' views on how the budget should be approached are influential and he can steer the debate.

Wilkins called the budget "realistic" and said there is bound to be some disagreement with it but that the proposal is "an excellent start."

The state's annual budget begins in the House Ways and Means Committee, which has already scheduled subcommittee meetings for next week. The legislature reconvenes Tuesday.

State Rep. Tom Keegan, R-Surfside Beach, is a member of Ways and Means and said Harrell's and Wilkins' views on Sanford's proposals are significant.

Keegan has pledged to support the plan.

One thing that impressed legislators was Sanford's reasoning and the figures he used to back up each line item.

"I am really impressed with what Mark did," Harrell said. "He has taken some chances with this budget."

Legislators say the proposal to combine state agencies makes sense and should result in some efficiencies and savings as well as better service.

"Putting some of those agencies together, I think, is a good idea," said Rep. Herb Kirsh, D-Clover, a longtime member of Ways and Means.

Kirsh said the House leadership seems to be warm to the plan. "I know we're not going to accept all of it, but I bet you we'll accept 60 to 80 percent of it," he said.

Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Greeleyville, is among Ways and Means members who are willing to give most of the plan a fair shake - except for the cigarette tax.

"I think he's off base for making a certain class of people pay for income tax relief for another class of people. That's crazy," Kennedy said.

Besides the cigarette tax, the portion of the plan most likely to face significant resistance is cuts in colleges and their programs.

Sanford said South Carolina can't afford to keep 33 schools and 79 campuses.

Neal Thigpen, a political science professor at Francis Marion University and experienced observer of state politics, said the appointments to college boards are a prerogative legislators don't want to give up.

"They like to be courted," by people who want to sit on college boards, he said. College board positions are some of the most hotly sought appointments in the state. Switching to one megaboard, as Sanford proposes, would be more efficient but isn't likely to happen, Thigpen said.

Thigpen also thought the budget is more of a long-range planning tool for where Sanford wants state government to go and includes too much to swallow in one bite. "It's a pig in a python," he said.

Rep. Jim Battle, D-Nichols, a member of Ways and Means and the public education subcommittee, doesn't think legislators will undertake as much of the agency change this year that Sanford wants, nor will they work on college consolidations or privatization.

"I think there would be a huge backlash if we tried to price college tuition out of the reach of the person on the street," Battle said.