Earmarks in SC budget include $1M for Columbia trail, $7.5M for opera house
S.C. House members have approved more than $238 million in earmarks for various statewide and district-level projects and initiatives, including millions directed by lawmakers to projects in their districts — from downtown revitalization efforts to museum upgrades.
A list of that project spending, approved by the House in a $10.2 billion spending plan for the state last week, was released this month by the House Ways and Means Committee, which gets the first crack at writing the state’s budget.
The list of earmarks — spending that is not requested by a state agency but flows through them nevertheless — gives an early look into how lawmakers intend to direct millions of taxpayer spending in the state budget that begins July 1 to nonprofits, government entities and other beneficiaries. The projects, often requested by specific lawmakers, are voted on in the chamber during the budget debate, but the openness in that process between the House and Senate varies.
The House list includes the names of the lawmakers who requested or sponsored each project or program, with a description and cost.
So far, this year’s earmarks from the S.C. House include $1 million to extend the Vista Greenway in Columbia, $2.2 million to expand a nursing program in Beaufort County, $2.5 million to revitalize downtown Seneca and another $10 million for film project incentives.
It also includes $7.5 million for upgrades to the Sumter Opera House, which also houses the Sumter City Council and city administration.
The list of projects is almost certain to grow and change in the coming months.
The House adopted its version of the state’s spending plan on Wednesday. Now the Senate will weigh in.
And on top of that, Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday called on House and Senate leaders to pull $45 million from a $128 million one-time tax credit — on the House’s earmark list — to help the state’s response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
This came after freshman state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, arguably the most vocal critic of earmarks in the Senate, sent a letter to the governor, saying the Legislature should direct a portion of its one-time new money used for “goodies and giveaways” instead to combat coronavirus impacts on the state’s economy, largely run on trade and tourism.
“Whatever economic harm may come; it will only be exacerbated by our inability to fund essential services,” said Harpootlian, D-Richland. “This risk is foreseeable and preventable if we fund the rainy-day fund with this year’s one-time money.”
Earmarks — often called “pet projects” by critics — have been of particular interest to lawmakers this year, after The State reported in December that the General Assembly directed at least $20 million worth in spending in the 2019 budget to projects in particular legislators’ districts through the budget that were often vague and unknown to the public and to lawmakers who voted for them.
This year, lawmakers have said they will support making the process more transparent and clearer for legislators and the public, after fielding criticism that members don’t know what they are voting on and pushback that the process lacks clear accountability and oversight.
House budget chairman Murrell Smith has defended the spending, pointing to a House rule that requires each earmark project or program be documented on a form by the Ways and Means chairman and include the member who requests it and a reason.
That contrasts from the Senate, which does not have a similar rule.
Earlier this month, state Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, formally objected to a measure — S. 890 — that would require the budget to disclose a description of each earmark for projects in legislators’ districts, including costs and which legislator requested the earmark.
“Everybody can express an opinion as to what project is more important than another project, but at the end of the day, if it’s from Sumter, I’m from Sumter, or members from Seneca or members from Richland County, that is very important to those members and their constituents,” said the Sumter Republican, who was appointed to take over the powerful House committee in December 2018.
Smith continued, “You’ve got to remember, we’re 124 members elected from distinct districts that represent individuals and groups and cities and counties, and everyone ought to have the opportunity to advocate for money that improves their respective districts. I don’t think it’s fair for someone who’s in the Upstate to tell someone who’s in Jasper County that they shouldn’t have money in their county. If people don’t like a certain project, or earmark on there right now, then they are free to vote against that earmark, put up an amendment to remove it, or vote against the section (where the earmark lives) or the budget.”
House members defend projects
South Carolina House members who requested earmarks this year defended sending state tax dollars back home.
House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, for example, this year requested the House budget include $1 million to help cover costs associated with extending the Vista Greenway, a nearly one-mile walkway that connects Columbia’s popular Vista district to north of Elmwood Avenue.
That money would help build on the city of Columbia’s vision to extend the Greenway to North Main to Bull Street to the east side of Harden Street, said Dana Higgins, the city’s director of engineering. The city also received an additional $500,000 last year from the state for the project.
“The city of Columbia is committed to enhancing connectivity throughout the region,” Higgins said. “In doing so, there is a vision to extend the Vista Greenway as resources become available.”
Rutherford, a Columbia Democrat, said he would like the city to create its own version of the Atlanta Beltline, which has spurred development alongside it, and that would allow people to ride bikes or walk without having to walk along a busy street.
“I’ve had conversations (about this) with just about anybody that will listen,” said Rutherford, who said he sees no problem in asking for state tax dollars to go back into his own district. “The people in the city of Columbia pay exorbitant taxes to subsidize the State House, University of South Carolina, nonprofits. Thirty-five percent of my district is untaxed property. I hope to get as much back to them as I can.”
Another project includes one sponsored by Sumter’s Smith and Rep. David Weeks, a Democrat, for $7.5 million for renovations and upgrades to the Sumter Opera House, which also houses the Sumter City Council and city administration.
Shelley Kile, communications and tourism director for the city of Sumter, told The State the money would go toward protection and historic renovation of the 125-year-old opera house and increase accessibility throughout the entertainment venue.
“It’s a beacon of our downtown,” Kile said.
A sampling of the earmarks includes:
▪ $1.7 million, requested by Reps. Jackie Hayes, D-Dillon; Garry Smith, R-Greenville; and Bill Whitmire, R-Oconee, for Charleston’s Pattison’s Academy for a pilot program for students with multiple disabilities. Efforts to reach the school this week were unsuccessful.
▪ $9 million, requested by Reps. Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville; Alan Clemmons, R-Horry; Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston; and David Weeks, D-Sumter, for the S.C. Technology and Aviation Center in Greenville for runway infrastructure improvements; and
▪ $500,000, requested by Rep. Mike Sottile, R-Charleston, to support the Spoleto festival in Charleston.
And in another example, Smith put in for $10 million for film incentives that would flow through the state’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism budget, saying more are needed if South Carolina wants to be competitive in the film industry with neighboring states.
As an example, Smith said the Halloween franchise wanted to film another movie in the Lowcountry, but needed film incentives.
There were none available he, said, so production went to North Carolina.
“We have a toe in the water,” Smith said. “And the General Assembly needs to figure out whether they want to put more body into the water or withdraw.”
