Senate OKs $40 million wish list in budget

Richland County senators pushed for local projects to be included in $40.4 million of wish-list spending given approval Wednesday as part of the state budget.

Whether the $40.4 million ever is spent will depend on whether state budget forecasters say lawmakers will have extra money in the state budget that takes effect July 1.

If forecasters add extra money to the state budget, $10 million will be spread across S.C. colleges to pay for overdue maintenance projects, a cause supported by Sen. John Courson, R-Richland.

S.C. colleges need money to pay for repairs to their older buildings, Courson said, citing buildings on the University of South Carolina’s Horseshoe and at Clemson University.

Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, pushed for the state to spend $150,000 to advertise the Black Expo, an event held in Greenville, Charleston and Columbia. The event helps promote African-American businesses and entrepreneurs.

If approved by the House, nearly $12 million in added state spending also could go to counties impacted by the 2014 ice storm.

Other projects approved include:

▪ $100,000 for the Cherokee County History Museum

▪ $90,000 for the York Veterans Park

▪ $67,500 for an Italian-American heritage group

▪ $20,000 for the town of Hickory Grove’s water tower

In addition, $100,000 would go to catalog marine artifacts excavated from Santa Elena, said Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort. Davis said the money is contractually required by the U.S. Marine Corps before another archeological dig can begin on Parris Island, the site of an early Spanish settlement on the North American coast.

Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, criticized fellow senators Tuesday for spending the surplus money on projects, proposing instead to spend the money on road repairs or tax relief. Davis also pushed for using any surplus money on road repairs.

However, senators already had approved spending more than $300 million in the new state budget on road repairs.

Lourie defended senators requesting money for projects in their districts. “All members of the Senate have particular projects that they believe are important to their community and are good for the state.”

Courson agreed. “Earmarks are in the eye of the beholder.”

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 7:35 PM.