SC Budget Problem Could Grow To $1.6B

South Carolina’s budget problems will likely get worse.
    The director of the Office of State Budget said Thursday that an
additional $567 million may need to be cut from spending plans that
are being considered now. That would increase the total spending
loss since last July to $1.6 billion.
    Les Boles said the state’s starting off the crafting of the next
budget with major holes. Since July, $1 billion has been cut from
state spending and the budget has fallen to $6.1 billion.
    Boles says state revenue is $80 million lower than a year ago.
Meanwhile the state has to find $152 million to keep up with
obligations to schools, $127 million for current Medicaid programs
and $50 million for prison and juvenile justice system shortfalls.