The Augusta Chronicle
Associated Press
March 9, 2010
COLUMBIA --- South Carolina agencies say planned spending cuts will eliminate nearly 2,300 jobs.
House members on Tuesday were briefed on the $5 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It was their first detailed look at how state agencies will handle more than $337 million in cuts.
Agencies are considering eliminating 2,287 regular, temporary and contract jobs. That includes 1,000 Department of Disabilities and Special Needs workers.
The state has more than 62,000 regular, full-time workers. Many of those would be affected by unpaid furloughs.
"This is what this budget is going to cause them to do," state Rep. Brian White told House members as the Anderson Republican explained what agency proposals meant.
"There are not many options unless some of you want to propose a tax increase," House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Cooper of Piedmont told legislators as the briefing began. Tax increase proposals aren't expected to gain much ground in a Legislature Republicans control, particularly in an election year for all 124 House seats.
Legislators hope that the U.S. Senate and House will agree on plans to send more money to struggling states before they debate the budget next week. That could head off deep cuts in health care programs.
State Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Myrtle Beach, handles health care agency spending for the Ways and Means Committee and was uncertain the U.S. House and Senate would reach compromises before the budget debate begins Monday.
"It's looking less and less likely," Edge said.
Edge also said a technical glitch in writing the disabilities agency's budget will be addressed in a budget amendment next week and that would address some of the spending reductions that would end services for nearly 26,000 people with disabilities ranging from autism to spinal cord injuries.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-03-09/s-carolina-spending-plan-could-cut-almost-2300-jobs?v=1268183475
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010.
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