By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | A righteous cynic might say the state of South Carolina is about to turn on a spigot of spending that would make a drunken sailor proud. But perhaps the state is finally starting to catch up on investments that it didn’t make for years in education, employee salaries and neglected infrastructure.
Staff reports | South Carolina House members will consider something new this week in the state’s $10 billion budget — a single line item that sets aside $500 million to keep agencies from making midyear cuts that could be brought on by unexpected pandemic expenses.
In this issue:
FOCUS: Charleston Parks Conservancy launches April litter cleanup program
COMMENTARY, Brack: Don’t buy specious logic on unsafe gun proposal
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
NEWS BRIEFS: $500 million fund is new to state’s $10 billion spending plan
FEEDBACK: Yes, budgets are important
MYSTERY PHOTO: Old church
CALENDAR: Learn about women creators at special history talk
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Media have gotten so streamlined that only one newspaper wrote a story earlier this month when the S.C. House Ways and Means Committee approved a $9.8 billion budget.
That’s billion with a “B.” And that “B” means that it matters. But without reporters meticulously covering what’s going on with your state tax dollars throughout the whole process — and not just at the end when all of the deals have been cut — then there’s a better likelihood that someone will stick a pet project or two in the budget.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | There’s a lot that goes on in a legislative session: Thousands of bills are filed. Hundreds of news stories are written about those bills. Scores of committee meetings underscore why making laws is as unsightly as making sausage.
Through it all after several months of work, much hot air was expended. Tempers flared. Filibusterers filibustered. Lobbyists lobbied. Visitors gawked. And a few laws got passed.
In 2019, legislators agreed enough to pass 113 measures – everything from the $9 billion budget to rejiggering voting precincts in Anderson, Greenwood, Dorchester, Pickens, Abbeville and Dillon counties. In fact, they seemed to like fiddling so much with Greenwood County’s precinct maps that they did it twice, first in March and later as the session was coming to a close.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Political positioning has already started for next year’s state budget, not that you should be surprised.
The culprits are two big numbers causing some confusion before the debate even begins.
Last month, the state Board of Economic Advisors projected South Carolina lawmakers would have about $440 million in new revenues for the 2017-18 budget. It’s not the $1.2 billion they had to craft the current budget, but it’s not small potatoes either. The lower number — which would have been a dream come true during the Great Recession a few years ago — reflects a slowing economy, perhaps. But it’s important to note this: The economy is still growing.
It’s easier this year than ever before for you and your children to enroll in the Charleston County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, enjoy lots of fun and win prizes. Also in Good News: A new brief history of Charleston; County Council’s proposed budget; County Council to hold hearings on proposed sales tax hike; Magnolia offers free tickets for blood donations.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
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