As Governor Mark Sanford prepares to deliver his annual “State of the State” next week, he’s releasing details of his budget proposal for next year. The budget totals nearly six billion dollars. He suggests trimming last year’s budget by nearly one billion dollars and to get there he admits will take a few sacrifices.
Sanford wants state workers to take two day furloughs and forcing retirees to pay more for their healthcare. The plan would also cut 200 million dollars from education and delay text book purchases. Sanford also suggests consolidating the administration for technical colleges.
The Governor is proposing tax relief for South Carolinians to the tune of 131 million dollars.
He says trimming the budget is necessary because he won’t raise taxes in difficult economic times.
"Given the fact that families don't have the luxury of going out and raising revenues - Then we ought to do what the families across South Carolina are doing that is they make the tough choices with regard to budget matters,” Sanford said.
He wants to help families by cutting the state’s highest income tax rate from seven percent to 3.65 percent. His plans pays for the tax break by raising the state’s lowest in the nation cigarette tax to 37 cents, higher fees for garbage disposal and eliminating sales tax holidays.
Lawmakers will start drafting a budget next week.
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