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Settling on the creation of a state Department of Administration is a work in progress that won’t be finished quickly, Senate majority leader Harvey Peeler said Thursday.
His assessment came as the Senate began its look at Gov. Nikki Haley’s plan to centralize several tasks - such as vehicle fleets and building upkeep - under a new agency that she would control.
Supporters say the change would end sometimes confusing lines of authority but probably won’t save much money at first.
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But some lawmakers are apprehensive about turning over significant control to the governor without making sure a better method of oversight also is in place.
“Our challenge is to make sure we have many sets of eyes looking over it,” said Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. “If we mess it up, we’ll create even more problems.”
The new agency would replace the Budget and Control Board, a five-member panel of statewide officials and lawmakers.
Haley’s plan cleared the House last year but bogged down in the Senate.
Her effort to force lawmakers to come back last summer to continue work on it was blocked by a divided state Supreme Court. But Senate leaders then promised early attention to it this year.
Major hurdles for approval of the change center on management of state pensions, debt and permission to some agencies to engage in deficit spending occasionally, lawmakers said.
Supporters of the change are “making headway” but agreement on those matters probably won’t happen quickly, said Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw.
The slow pace reflects uncertainty over the impact of some aspects of the package instead of hostility, said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston.
Peeler predicted much of what Haley favors will gain approval after “we hunker down and work through some things.”
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