Budget Update

Current as of February 24, 2010

Dear Colleagues,

The House Ways and Means Committee this evening released spreadsheets regarding its planned appropriation reductions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, and the news -- while very preliminary in the overall process -- is not good.

Higher education is the target of an approximate 20 percent reduction to our state base in this starting point budget. At Winthrop, that’s a matter of $3,300,848, with an additional line item reduction targeted to agency travel that would cost Winthrop an additional $114,334. 

This proposed reduction in state funds, if approved through the remainder of the legislative process, would bring Winthrop’s total loss of annual state appropriations to more than $10 million since the Fall of 2008.

Higher education is not alone in this situation.  Chief Justice Jean Toal earlier today was expressing her concerns about the capacity of the state courts system to deal with South Carolina’s fiscal situation and continuing loss of appropriations to the courts, and the Department of Corrections already has asked and received permission to operate at a deficit.

Please keep in mind the budget process is just beginning and will continue for some months. We will remain in close touch with state revenue estimates and their impact on the budget process as it moves forward, and I will be keeping you informed of key developments along the way. Meanwhile, I wanted to let you know this news as soon as possible. 

Sincerely,

Tony DiGiorgio