COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina school and health care budgets are expected to take more hits because tax collections are projected to continue their downward spiral.

The latest cut being discussed Thursday by the state's financial oversight board would rip about $345 million from spending plans. This comes a day after economic forecasters projected the unemployment rate would soar to 14 percent next year.

The estimate has budget officials looking to pare about 6.3 percent from a $6 billion spending plan. Already this year, the budget has been trimmed by more than $620 million.

Sales and income tax collections are off because of the economy. South Carolina's unemployment rate hit 8 percent in October, the highest rate in 25 years and the fourth highest in the country.

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