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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Sanford wants agencies to set aside 4 percent of their funding to prepare for budget cuts.

Sanford's request Monday sets the stage for reductions in January to the $6.5 billion budget. But the cuts could come in a couple of weeks when a financial oversight board discusses a shortfall of $103 million, or 2 percent.

Sanford can tell 15 Cabinet agencies to set aside the money, but the other agencies would have to volunteer to do so.

The state Budget and Control Board meets Dec. 11 and its members could choose to impose across-the-board budget cuts.

Legislators met last month and cut $488 million from the budget. Since July, the state Board of Economic Advisors has reported the budget is falling nearly 8 percent short of projections.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)