A week after the State Budget and Control Board issued an across-the-board midyear budget cut of three percent, Governor Mark Sanford (web|news) traveled the state to say the decision is the wrong way to address South Carolina’s revenue shortfall.

Sanford’s three-city stop Thursday included the Department of Public Safety building in North Charleston. With state troopers standing at attention behind the governor during his speech, Sanford referred to their agency as a critical need that should take priority.

"Given the significance of certain functions of government, like the jobs these gentlemen do, we think it's important to be more discerning about these cuts and targeted,” stated Sanford.

Based on financial numbers provided by the Governor’s office, the across-the-board budget cut means the Department of Public Safety loses $2.6 million.

Education is the agency listed as taking the biggest financial hit totaling $73 million. 

When asked which department has the most to lose under the across-the-board cut, Sanford named the Department of Corrections, which he said is already in a deficit. 

“It’s a $10 million cut. If you’re already running a deficit, you’re just digging a deeper hole.” 

Sanford wants voters to encourage their legislative leaders to return to Columbia before the November election to make targeted budget cuts, instead of allowing all agencies to be cut equally. 

Sanford pushed his point by comparing state budget cuts to family financial decisions. 

"Just like families are doing across South Carolina, the movie budget is not the same as the mortgage budget. We're not going to cut equally at three percent. One has a greater value to the family than the other. Businesses do it. Families do it. We think government should do it as well."

Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and is one of five members of the State Budget and Control Board. 

He responded to Governor Sanford’s news conference by issuing a statement Thursday afternoon that read, “It would be premature—and a waste of time and taxpayer money—for the legislature to return to Columbia to deal with a budget shortfall at this time. A three percent cut in a six billion dollar budget is manageable for any well-run state agency. Priority items such as public education and Medicaid have been put at the front of the line in recent years with substantial budget increases, so I am not overly concerned about a three percent cut at this time.”

House Speaker Bobby Harrell (R-Charleston) agrees with Sanford that targeted budget cuts are needed but criticized the governor for holding press conferences complaining about the across-the-board budget cut. Harrell stated in a news release, “If the Governor had taken the time to ask before announcing his press fly around, he would have found out that I believe that targeted budget cuts are the right thing to do. But potentially spending millions of dollars to have the General Assembly return in September for a special budget session is not the right answer. The Legislature can easily address these targeted cuts when session begins in January, and without wasting millions of taxpayer dollars. “

Governor Sanford said the Budget and Control Board only has the authority to issue across-the-board cuts, but it is a power given to the board by the Legislature.

Click here to read more about Governor Sanford’s opinion

Click here to read House Speaker Harrell’s response

Click here to read Senator Hugh Leatherman’s response